Become and other process verbs



Mini-Lesson

We use the process verb become to describe a change of state.  Other process verbs include:
come        fall        get        grow        run        turn(into)        wear
The nights are becoming longer and the days shorter.
It’s growing dark.
My boots are wearing thin.
He’s turning into a polite and charming young man.

Tense

Note that when describing change, the present simple tense should not be used. We should use the present continuous tense for things that are changing and the present perfect tense for things that have already changed.
e.g.  
Charlie’s grades are below average this semester so he becomes depressed.
Charlie’s grades are below average this semester so he’s becoming/he has become depressed.

Get/become

We use get rather than become in colloquial English, in imperatives and in phrases like:
get broken, get dressed, get divorced, get killed, get lost, get married, get washed
We often use get in combination with certain adjectives e.g.
get angry, get ill, get bored, get depressed, get wet, get drunk

Examples:
When he lost his job, he got divorced soon after.
Get out of bed and get washed at once!
You’ll get killed if you jay walk like that!
I got drunk at my best friend’s stag night.
We use become when we refer to a more abstract process of change.
e.g. He became recognised as a pioneer in the field of nanotechnology.
I’ve recently become aware of a distinct coldness in his manner.


Spot the mistakes

Some of the following sentences contain a mistake with the tense of the verb become. Identify the mistake and correct it where appropriate. If there is no mistake, write Correct in the box provided.

1. are becoming/have become

2. is becoming/has become

3. CORRECT

4. have become     Tip: Use the present perfect tense after since

5. CORRECT

6. is becoming/has become


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Choose the right verb

Choose the correct alternative: BECOME or GET. The verbs are all in the correct tense.

1. became

2. became

3. Get

4. got

5. become

6. get

7. got

8. became


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Sentence completion

Complete the sentences with an appropriate form of one of the following verbs:
come, get, grow, go, or turn. If more than one is possible, give them both.

1. grown/gone/turned

2. came/got/grew

3. got

4. growing/getting

5. turning

6. gone

7. got

8. got


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