Volverse y ponerse: verbos de cambio (videolección)

Spanish has several verbs to say that someone becomes something. This lesson explains two of them, volverse and ponerse, and the adjectives that combine with each one.

Do you know the difference between "volverse" and "ponerse" in Spanish, which both mean "becoming/turning"? You can learn it now with this free Spanish lesson brought to you by Tilde Madrid Spanish school in Madrid

Key points

Ponerse + adjective expresses a quick, usually temporary change in mood or appearance: ponerse nervioso, ponerse rojo, ponerse triste.
Volverse + adjective expresses a deeper change, often in someone's personality, that tends to last: volverse muy trabajador, volverse loco.
Each verb combines with its own adjectives, so it helps to learn them as fixed pairs.

Frequent doubts

Why se puso rojo and not se volvió rojo?

Because blushing is a sudden and temporary change, typical of ponerse. Volverse would suggest a lasting transformation.

Are there other verbs of change in Spanish?

Yes: hacerse (hacerse rico, hacerse vegetariano), convertirse en + noun (se convirtió en un problema) and llegar a ser (llegó a ser director).

Do volverse and ponerse always need the pronoun se?

Yes, when they mean to become: me pongo nervioso, te has vuelto muy trabajador, se ha puesto triste.

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Key points

Frequent doubts

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