become
Base form
become
/bɪˈkʌm/
Past simple
became
/bɪˈkeɪm/
Past participle
become
/bɪˈkʌm/
MeaningA1
to start to be something
to become a doctor
In use
- After a modal verb · Form 1I hope Priya will become a doctor one day.
- Question · Form 1When did video calls become so common?
- Past simple · Form 2The small café became very popular last year.
- Past simple · Form 2In 2019 the old factory became a modern art gallery.
- Present perfect · Form 3Cycling has become much safer in our town.
- Past perfect · Form 3By the end of the summer, Tom and Leo had become close friends.
Watch out
Became is the past; the third form is become: has became → has become.
Same pattern
A — B — AThe third form returns to the first
Irregular VerbsLearn all three forms for good
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