The verb become means “to begin to be” or “to come to be something.” It is irregular, with the past simple form became and the past participle form become.
Conjugation Pattern
| Verb Form | Example (English) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|
| Base form | become | I want to become a doctor. |
| Past simple | became | She became very tired. |
| Past participle | become | They have become friends. |
| Present participle | becoming | He is becoming taller. |
Usage Rules
- Use become to show a change of state or role.
- Use became for simple past actions.
- Use become (past participle) with have/has/had for perfect tenses.
- Use becoming (present participle) for ongoing change.
- become is often followed by nouns, adjectives, or prepositional phrases (e.g., become a teacher, become angry, become of no use).
Example Sentences
Simple Present & Present Participle
| Tense | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | I become nervous before tests. | General truth or habit |
| Present participle | She is becoming more confident. | Ongoing change |
Simple Past
| Tense | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Past simple | He became a pilot last year. | Completed past action |
| Past simple | They became friends in college. | Completed past action |
Present Perfect
| Tense | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Present perfect | I have become more patient recently. | Action with relevance to now |
| Present perfect | She has become very famous. | Result still true |
Past Perfect
| Tense | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Past perfect | By 2020, he had become a manager. | Completed before another past action |
| Past perfect | They had become tired before dinner. | Completed before another past action |
Common Patterns
| Pattern | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| become + noun | She became a doctor. | Change of role or identity |
| become + adjective | He became angry. | Change in state or emotion |
| become + prepositional phrase | The milk became of no use. | Change in condition or value |
| have/has/had become + noun/adjective | I have become tired. | Perfect tense shows completed change |
| is/are becoming + adjective/noun | They are becoming impatient. | Progressive change in state or role |
Summary
- become = base form and past participle: use with infinitive, perfect tenses, or progressive forms.
- became = simple past form: use for completed past actions.
- Describes change of state, role, or condition.
- Followed by nouns, adjectives, or prepositional phrases.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- Verb Form: Base form
- Example (English): I want to become a doctor.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
