English grammar
Verbs of change: become and get — and go + adjective, recapped
Describe how someone has changed, choosing between become, get and go + adjective.
From the scene He's become unbearable
In short
Become is the neutral verb of change and get + adjective the everyday one. Go only works in set phrases: go mad.
Your turn
Which one goes with an everyday reaction: get?
Options: he's become unbearable · you're going to go bald · he gets nervous about anything
Show answer
an everyday reaction: get → he gets nervous about anything
How it works
English has several verbs for a change. Become is the neutral one, a little more formal: he's become unbearable.
Good to know
Get + adjective is the everyday choice, especially for quick reactions: he gets nervous about anything.
Good to know
Go, which you've already met, works only with a fixed set of changes, often bad ones: go bald, go mad, go wrong. You can't say "go unbearable".
a change in character: become he's become unbearable
Elena
Since the renovation started, he's become unbearable.
Desde que empezó la reforma, se ha vuelto insoportable.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Since the renovation started, (blank).
Options: he gets nervous about anything · you're going to go bald · he's become unbearable
Show answer
Elena
Since the renovation started, he's become unbearable.
Desde que empezó la reforma, se ha vuelto insoportable.
an everyday reaction: get he gets nervous about anything
Nuria
He used to be so calm... Now he gets nervous about anything.
Antes era tan tranquilo... Ahora se pone nervioso por cualquier cosa.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
He used to be so calm... Now (blank).
Options: he gets nervous about anything · he's become unbearable · you're going to go bald
Show answer
Nuria
He used to be so calm... Now he gets nervous about anything.
Antes era tan tranquilo... Ahora se pone nervioso por cualquier cosa.
go + a fixed set of changes, often bad you're going to go bald
Nuria
Relax, Tomás. If you get like this, you're going to go bald.
Tranquilo, Tomás. Si te pones así, te vas a quedar calvo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Relax, Tomás. If you get like this, (blank).
Options: he's become unbearable · he gets nervous about anything · you're going to go bald
Show answer
Nuria
Relax, Tomás. If you get like this, you're going to go bald.
Tranquilo, Tomás. Si te pones así, te vas a quedar calvo.
another fixed pair with go you've gone mad
Elena
Tomás, dear, you've gone mad.
Tomás, hijo, te has vuelto loco.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tomás, dear, (blank).
Options: he's become unbearable · he gets nervous about anything · you've gone mad
Show answer
Elena
Tomás, dear, you've gone mad.
Tomás, hijo, te has vuelto loco.
a plan going wrong if this goes wrong
Tomás
It's just that if this goes wrong, Marisa and I will be left without a penny.
Es que si esto sale mal, Marisa y yo nos quedamos sin un peso.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
It's just that (blank), Marisa and I will be left without a penny.
Options: if this goes wrong · he's become unbearable · he gets nervous about anything
Show answer
Tomás
It's just that if this goes wrong, Marisa and I will be left without a penny.
Es que si esto sale mal, Marisa y yo nos quedamos sin un peso.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| a change in character: become | he's become unbearable |
|---|---|
| an everyday reaction: get | he gets nervous about anything |
| go + a fixed set of changes, often bad | you're going to go bald |
| another fixed pair with go | you've gone mad |
| a plan going wrong | if this goes wrong |
More lines from the story
- NuriaAnd poor Marisa has had to give up coffee. Now she's pregnant, she can't stand the smell.Y la pobre Marisa se ha quedado sin café. Con el embarazo, no soporta el olor.