Spanish grammar
Verbs of change I: volverse, quedarse vs ponerse
Say how someone has changed, choosing between volverse, quedarse and ponerse.
From the scene Se ha vuelto insoportable (He's become unbearable)
In short
Ponerse is a quick change of mood, volverse a lasting change of character. Quedarse is the state you're left in.
Your turn
Which one goes with he gets nervous (for a moment)?
Options: se ha quedado sin café · se pone nervioso · se ha vuelto insoportable
Show answer
he gets nervous (for a moment) → se pone nervioso
How it works
Ponerse + adjective is a quick, temporary change of mood or look (se pone nervioso).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Tomás, hijo, te has (blank) loco.
Options: quedado · hecho · vuelto
Show answer
Tomás, hijo, te has vuelto loco.
Tomás, dear, you have gone mad.
Good to know
Volverse is a deeper change in someone's character that seems to last (se ha vuelto insoportable, te has vuelto loco).
Good to know
Quedarse is the state you are left in after something happens: quedarse calvo, and with sin, being left without something (se ha quedado sin café, me he quedado sin palabras).
he's become unbearable (character) se ha vuelto insoportable
Elena
Desde que empezó la reforma, se ha vuelto insoportable.
Since the renovation started, he has become unbearable.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Desde que empezó la reforma, (blank).
Options: se ha vuelto insoportable · se pone nervioso · se ha quedado sin café
Show answer
Elena
Desde que empezó la reforma, se ha vuelto insoportable.
Since the renovation started, he has become unbearable.
he gets nervous (for a moment) se pone nervioso
Nuria
Antes era tan tranquilo... Ahora se pone nervioso por cualquier cosa.
He used to be so calm... Now he gets nervous about anything.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Antes era tan tranquilo... Ahora (blank) por cualquier cosa.
Options: se pone nervioso · se ha vuelto insoportable · se ha quedado sin café
Show answer
Nuria
Antes era tan tranquilo... Ahora se pone nervioso por cualquier cosa.
He used to be so calm... Now he gets nervous about anything.
she's had to give up her coffee se ha quedado sin café
Nuria
Y la pobre Marisa se ha quedado sin café. Con el embarazo, no soporta el olor.
And poor Marisa has had to give up coffee. Being pregnant, she can't stand the smell.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y la pobre Marisa (blank). Con el embarazo, no soporta el olor.
Options: se pone nervioso · se ha quedado sin café · se ha vuelto insoportable
Show answer
Nuria
Y la pobre Marisa se ha quedado sin café. Con el embarazo, no soporta el olor.
And poor Marisa has had to give up coffee. Being pregnant, she can't stand the smell.
you're going to go bald te vas a quedar calvo
Your turn
What goes with te vas a quedar calvo?
Options: you're going to go bald · he's become unbearable (character) · he gets nervous (for a moment)
Show answer
te vas a quedar calvo → you're going to go bald
I'm speechless me he quedado sin palabras
Elena
Me he quedado sin palabras.
I'm speechless.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: Se ha vuelto insoportable · Se pone nervioso · Me he quedado sin palabras
Show answer
Elena
Me he quedado sin palabras.
I'm speechless.
Common mistake
Not queda or hace here. A quick, temporary reaction.
Antes era tan tranquilo... Ahora se pone nervioso por cualquier cosa.
He used to be so calm... Now he gets nervous about anything.
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
| he's become unbearable (character) | se ha vuelto insoportable |
|---|---|
| he gets nervous (for a moment) | se pone nervioso |
| she's had to give up her coffee | se ha quedado sin café |
| you're going to go bald | te vas a quedar calvo |
| I'm speechless | me he quedado sin palabras |
More lines from the story
- ElenaTomás, hijo, te has vuelto loco.Tomás, dear, you have gone mad.
- ElenaNo, hijo. Es igual que los otros cuarenta.No, dear. It's the same as the other forty.