Ponerse[]
expresses a physical or emotional change that generally lasts for a short amount of time.
- Alina se pone roja con los chistes de su hermano.
- Alina turns red with her brother's jokes.
Volverse[]
Indicates a more radical change that lasts longer
- Ella se volvió loca al sufrir tantos horrores durante la guerra.
- She became crazy upon suffering so many horrors during the war.
Hacerse / Llegar a ser[]
indicates a change that was achieved through effort
- Pedro estudia para hacerse médico.
- Pedro is studying to become a doctor.
- Rebeca llegó a ser abogada.
- Rebeca became (got to be) a lawyer.
Quedarse[]
Indicates a change that occured because of a consequence of something that happened before
- Los chicos se quedan muy tristes cuando no los llevan al cine.
- The children are (stay) very sad when they don't take them to the movies.
- Lucía se quedó sin poder hablar al oír la noticia.
- Lucia was (remained) unable to speak upon hearing the news.
Other words that express change[]
| aburrirseto get bored | enloquecerto go crazy |
| acostumbrarseto get used to | enojarseto get angry |
| adelgazar
to get thin, to reduce |
enrojecerseto blush |
| alegrarseto be happy | entristecerse
to become sad |
| calmarse to calm down | envejecer to get old |
| cansarseto get tired | mejorarseto get better |
| enfermarse
to get sick |
palidecer
to become pale |