Understanding Became in Grammar: Usage and Contexts，Became is a crucial verb in English that denotes a change or transition from one state to another. It is used primarily in the past tense to describe actions or situations that have occurred in the past. In this comprehensive guide, well explore its usage, common patterns, and the contexts in which it fits seamlessly into sentences.
The simple past tense of become is became. For example:
"She became a professional musician after years of practice."
In this case, became expresses a completed action that led to a new state or role.
Became can also be used in the passive voice, where the focus is on the receiver of the action:
"The company was founded by John Doe in 2005."
Here, was founded is the passive form of became, emphasizing the change without specifying who performed the action.
For a continuous action, becoming is used:
"She had been becoming more confident every day."
This indicates a process that started at some point and continued up to the time being described.
The present perfect tense of become is has become or had become (for past actions):
"They have become good friends over the years."
This shows a completed action with a lasting effect.
To compare two states, than can be used with became:
"He felt happier than he had become in years."
This highlights a contrast between the current state and a previous one.
With modal verbs like could or would, become takes on different meanings:
"She could become fluent in Spanish if she studied consistently."
This implies possibility or potentiality.
In conclusion, became is a versatile verb that allows for various expressions of change, transformation, or transition. By understanding its usage and the contexts in which it is employed, you can effectively communicate your intended meaning in written or spoken English.