Irregular verb
The verb to become
become → became → become
A2Meaning: to start to be something · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 50 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they become·he/she/it becomes - Past Simple:
became - Past participle:
become(the same as the base form!) - -ing form:
becoming(without the final e)
Conjugation of the verb to become
Present Simple
| I | become |
| You | become |
| He / She / It | becomes |
| We | become |
| You (pl.) | become |
| They | become |
Past Simple
| I | became |
| You | became |
| He / She / It | became |
| We | became |
| You (pl.) | became |
| They | became |
All the forms of the verb to become
Present Simple
Full pagebecome / becomes
“She becomes more confident every day.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are becoming
“I am becoming more confident right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagebecame
“He became a doctor in 2020.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were becoming
“I was becoming more confident when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has become
“I have already become more confident.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad become
“She had already become more confident when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill become
“I will become more confident tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to become
“I'm going to become more confident this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould become
“I would become more confident if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to become
1. Becoming something (a lasting change)
- She became a doctor.
- He became famous.
2. Become + adjective
Become can go straight before an adjective: become dark, become famous.
- It became dark.
- She has become very confident.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Become or get?
Become = a lasting change, a little more formal. Get = a change of state, more common in speech. He became a doctor (a job). It's getting cold (the weather).
2. I have became ❌
The past participle of become is the same as the base form: become → became → become. So say I have become. Became is only for the Past Simple.
Going further
Conjugating to become is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of become?+
The Past Simple of become is became, the same for every person. The past participle is become, like the base form. Become → became → become.
What is the difference between become and get?+
Both can mean to start to be. Become is for lasting changes, often about people and jobs: She became a lawyer. Get is for changes of state; it is wider and more common in speech: I'm getting tired.
Is it he became a doctor or he has become a doctor?+
Both are correct. He became a doctor in 2020 (Past Simple, a definite time). He has become a doctor (Present Perfect, linked to now). In the Present Perfect, be careful: the participle is become.
Why is the past participle become and not became?+
Become follows the same pattern as come: come → came → come. So the past participle is the same as the base form: I have become. Other verbs made from come do the same.
Does become need a preposition?+
Usually not. Say He became a teacher or She became famous, with no preposition. Become of is a special expression: What has become of him? means what has happened to him?
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/become
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.