The verb to become · Conjugation
Past Simple of become
The answer: became
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to become is became.
Example: He became a doctor in 2020.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | became |
| You | became |
| He / She / It | became |
| We | became |
| You (pl.) | became |
| They | became |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I have became ❌
Like come, the past participle of become is the same as the base form: become. I have become ✓, not I have became ✗.
2. Becomed ❌
Become is irregular. Its Past Simple is became, never becomed.
3. Becomeing ❌
The -ing form drops the final e: become → becoming, never becomeing.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of become in real sentences
Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Practise on PLAYMaster the Past Simple of become when you speak, not just on paper
The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.
Practise the Past Simple of become on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of become, and you follow each student
The Academy has self-marking activities on this form, with a dashboard for each student: you see at a glance who is falling behind.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of become?+
The Past Simple of become is became, the same for every person. The past participle is become (like the base form).
Is it has became or has become?+
Became is the Past Simple, used alone: He became a doctor. Become is the past participle, used after have / has: He has become a doctor. So has became is wrong.
Is it didn't become or didn't became?+
Say didn't become: He didn't become a doctor. After didn't, the verb stays in its base form.
What is the difference between become and get?+
Become = a lasting change. Get = a change of state, more common in speech. She became a teacher (more formal, lasting). It's getting cold (a state, everyday speech). Both describe a change.
Is become a regular verb?+
No, become is irregular: become → became → become. Its past participle is the same as the base form: no -ed, no special form.
Related pages: become Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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/past-simple
© 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.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to become are coming soon.