The main verbs used to describe change in Spanish are: “ponerse,” “volverse,” “hacerse,” “quedar,” “convertirse en,” and “llegar a.”
In Spanish, selecting the proper verb to describe a change can be tricky. This depends on the nature of change in a state or emotion:
- whether the change is temporary or permanent
- whether the change is voluntary or involuntary
- whether the change is sudden or the result of a process
1. “Ponerse”
This verb describes temporary, involuntary, and sudden changes, especially in emotions, for example:
| Se puso triste después de la muerte de su esposa. | He became sad after the death of his wife. |
| Me pongo feliz cada vez que te veo. | I become happy every time I see you. |
2. “Volverse”
This verb describes permanent, involuntary, and sudden changes. It usually describes changes into a negative state of mind, for example:
| Se volvió loca cuando escuchó la noticia. | She went crazy when she heard the news. |
| Se va a volver obsesivo a causa de eso. | He’ll become obsessive because of this. |
3. “Hacerse”
This verb describes permanent and voluntary changes, regardless of whether the change is sudden or the result of a process. It is usually used to refer to change in religion, belief, or ideology, for example:
| Esa famosa cantante se hizo musulmana. | That famous singer became Muslim. |
| Se hizo socialista. | He became a socialist. |
4. “Quedar”
This verb describes a change that is the result of a process or an accident, regardless of whether it is permanent or temporary and regardless of whether it is voluntary or involuntary, for example:
| Quedó muy cansado después del partido. | He got tired after the match. |
| Ella quedó embarazada. | She got pregnant. |
| Él quedó paralítico a causa del accidente. | He got paralyzed because of the accident. |
5. “Convertirse en”
This verb describes a change that is the result of a process that leads to an important change, regardless of whether it is permanent or temporary and regardless of whether it is voluntary or involuntary, for example:
| Nueva York se convirtió en la capital financiera global. | New York became the global financial capital. |
| Su proyecto se convertirá en un gran negocio. | His project will become a large business. |
6. “Llegar a”
This verb describes a change that is the result of a process that involved an effort to achieve the goal, regardless of whether it is permanent or temporary and regardless of whether it is voluntary or involuntary, for example:
| Messi llegó a ser el mejor jugador de fútbol. | Messi became the best football player. |
| Este senador llegará a ser el presidente del país. | This senator will become the president of the country. |
Summary
The table below presents a summary of the verbs of change: “ponerse,” “volverse,” “hacerse,” “quedar,” “convertirse en,” and “llegar a.”
| ponerse | temporary | involuntary | sudden | emotions |
| volverse | permanent | involuntary | sudden | negative state of mind |
| hacerse | permanent | voluntary | – | belief or ideology |
| quedar | – | – | – | process or accident |
| convertirse en | – | – | process | important change |
| llegar a | – | – | process | involves effort |
Quiz: Verbs of Change in Spanish
Next: Reflexive Passive, Impersonal, & Accidental “Se”
More lessons in Level VI:
Level VI – Fluent
2. “Should/Could/Would Have …”
3. Pluperfect Indicative Tense
4. Pluperfect Subjunctive Tense
5. Use of “Aunque,” “Si Bien,” and “A Pesar de”
7. Reflexive Passive, Impersonal, & Accidental “Se”
8. Diminutives & Augmentatives
