"Eles passaram a levar trabalho para casa."

[Quentinho]

I do not get why 'passaram' translates into started here?

[Paulenrique]

Strange but to continue having the same meaning, start or begin are the best verbs to be used. When you use passar + a + verb, it takes the meaning of start.

[AlexTheTutor]

hm.. I think "passar" is one of those verbs that can have A LOT of meanings. So, I guess passar + a + infinitive verb means "to start to...". But, I was reading an article in Brazil and the article mentioned "passaram a ser", which translated as "they became". Is this correct too? :)

[Paulenrique]

Thats true.... here are some of the uses: pass (by), become, start, iron, pass over, cross, go (by), walk (by), spend...

[finnplek]

I guess when you think about it, 'to start to be'/'to come to be' does pretty much mean 'to become'. I think it's the same in Spanish..