Get, go, become, turn — and six Spanish verbs
He got nervous, went crazy, became a doctor, went deaf, turned into a problem. The English verbs only roughly match the Spanish ones. In Spanish you choose by asking three questions: Is the change sudden or gradual? Temporary or lasting? Deliberate or something that happens to you?
| Verb | Kind of change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ponerse + adjective | sudden, usually temporary: mood, health, appearance | ponerse nervioso, rojo, enfermo |
| volverse + adjective | deep and lasting, often unexpected: character, personality | volverse loco, desconfiado |
| hacerse + adjective/noun | gradual, often through your own effort: job, beliefs, status | hacerse médico, rico, vegetariano |
| quedarse + adjective | result after an event, often a loss | quedarse sordo, viudo, sin trabajo |
| convertirse en + noun | transformation into something else | convertirse en un problema |
| llegar a ser + noun/adjective | high point after a long road | llegar a ser ministra |
Same word, different change
Some adjectives work with more than one verb. Then the verb changes the message, not the adjective. The clearest case is ponerse versus volverse.
nervioso: a moment or a personality
ponerse
Se puso nervioso antes de la entrevista.
He got nervous before the interview.
in that moment
volverse
Desde el accidente se ha vuelto muy nervioso.
Since the accident he has become a very nervous person.
as a person
In everyday life
Cuando la vio, se puso rojo.
When he saw her, he went red.
Mi abuelo se quedó sordo de un oído.
My grandfather went deaf in one ear.
Cuando me lo contó, me quedé helada.
When she told me, I was stunned.
El pueblo se ha convertido en un destino de moda.
The village has turned into a trendy destination.
Empezó de becaria y llegó a ser directora general.
She started as an intern and went on to become CEO.
Vámonos, que se hace tarde.
Let's go, it's getting late.
impersonal, no subject
