Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

(lily) #1
El nuevo camarero se ha vuelto muy perezoso.
The new waiter has turned very lazy.
La ciudad se está volviendo insoportable.
The city is becoming unbearable.

41.2.2 Not involving a change in the nature of the subject


Long lasting transformations not involving the subject’s character, attitude or mental
state, are often expressed through the verb hacerse, ‘to become’, followed by an
adjective:
Su padre se hizo rico con la compraventa de automóviles.
His/her father became rich by buying and selling cars.
Los Vega se hicieron millonarios.
The Vegas became millionaires.
Se hizo famosa en todo el mundo.
She became world-famous.

41.2.3 Voluntary changes


Transformations which are the direct result of the subject’s will or of an external
influence or force, and which involve a change in occupation, religion, ideology, etc.,
are normally expressed through the verb hacerse, ‘to become’, followed by a noun or
an adjective.
A pesar de la oposición de sus padres, Lucía decidió hacerse monja.
In spite of her parents’ opposition, Lucía decided to become a nun.
Pepe se hizo socialista.
Pepe became a socialist.
Para casarse con Ali, Isabel tuvo que hacerse musulmana.
To marry Ali, Isabel had to become a Muslim.

41.3 Talking about changes resulting from a natural process


Transformations of this kind are normally expressed through hacerse, ‘to become’, ‘to
grow’, followed by an adverb or an adjective.
Pasamos la noche allí, pues se había hecho muy tarde.
We spent the night there, as it had become very late.
Mi madre se hizo muy vieja.
My mother grew very old.

41.4 Talking about the result of a process of change


The result of a slow transformation process, usually involving some kind of effort in the
pursuit of a goal, is normally expressed through the phrase llegar a ser, ‘to become’,
which may be followed by a noun or an adjective.

EXPRESSING CHANGES 41.3

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