To become something means to change or grow into that thing. We use the infinitive become for general statements, the preterite became for past change, and the past participle become in perfect tenses.
Form
The verb become is irregular: the base form is become, the simple past is became, and the past participle is become. We use each form in different grammatical contexts.
Yesterday, she became the team leader after the manager left.
Usage
Use become for turning into a new state or role. Use became to narrate a change that happened at a specific time. Use become in perfect tenses to emphasize the result of a change.
Examples
Expressions
Common expressions with become include phrases like become friends, become famous, and become interested. These collocations show typical types of change.
Summary
Remember: use become for the infinitive and participle forms, became for the simple past, and choose each form to fit the meaning and time of the change. Practice with short sentences about real changes.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025