Have you ever paused while writing a sentence and wondered whether you should use became or become? You’re not alone. These two words look similar because they come from the same verb, but they serve different grammatical purposes and cannot be used interchangeably.
Understanding the difference between became or become is essential for speaking and writing clear, grammatically correct English. In this guide, you’ll learn when to use each word, the grammar rules behind them, practical examples, common mistakes, and easy tricks to remember the difference.
Understanding the Verb “Become”
Before comparing the two forms, it’s important to understand the base verb.
Become is an irregular verb that means:
- To start being something
- To change into a different state
- To develop a new quality or characteristic
For example:
- She wants to become a doctor.
- The weather will become colder tonight.
- He hopes to become more confident.
Since “become” is an irregular verb, its forms don’t simply add “-ed.”
| Verb Form | Word |
| Base Form | become |
| Past Simple | became |
| Past Participle | become |
| Present Participle | becoming |
Notice that become appears twice—as the base form and the past participle.
Became vs. Become: The Main Difference
The biggest difference between became or become is the tense.
Became
Became is the simple past tense of “become.”
Use it when describing something that happened and finished in the past.
Examples:
- She became famous after the movie.
- The sky became dark before the storm.
- My brother became a teacher in 2018.
In each example, the action happened at a specific time in the past.
Become
Become is used in several different situations:
- As the base form of the verb
- After modal verbs
- In the infinitive (“to become”)
- As the past participle with helping verbs
Examples:
- I want to become an engineer.
- You can become fluent through practice.
- She has become much more confident.
- They will become good friends.
When Should You Use “Became”?
Choose became whenever you’re talking about a completed action in the simple past.
Sentence Structure
Subject + became + complement
Examples:
- The child became tired after the trip.
- Water became ice overnight.
- He became interested in photography.
These sentences don’t require helping verbs like “has,” “have,” or “had.”
When Should You Use “Become”?
Become appears in several grammar structures.
After “To”
Examples:
- She hopes to become a lawyer.
- I plan to become healthier this year.
After Modal Verbs
Examples:
- You can become successful.
- We should become more environmentally friendly.
- They might become our neighbors.
With Helping Verbs
As the past participle, become works with auxiliary verbs.
Examples:
- She has become an excellent musician.
- They have become close friends.
- The situation had become difficult.
- Technology has become more advanced.
Quick Comparison Table
| Became | Become |
| Simple past tense | Base form or past participle |
| Refers to completed past actions | Used with modal and helping verbs |
| “She became famous.” | “She has become famous.” |
| No auxiliary verb needed | Often follows has, have, had, will, can, should |
Examples in Everyday English
Let’s compare similar sentences.
Simple Past
- He became a father last year.
- The city became crowded during the festival.
- I became interested in cooking.
Present Perfect
- He has become a respected author.
- The city has become much larger.
- I have become more patient.
Future
- She will become a manager next month.
- The leaves will become yellow in autumn.
Infinitive
- I want to become better at English.
- They hope to become homeowners soon.
Common Mistakes People Make
Even advanced English learners sometimes confuse these forms.
Mistake 1
She has became a doctor.
She has become a doctor.
Why?
After “has,” always use the past participle.
Mistake 2
Yesterday I become sick.
Yesterday I became sick.
Why?
“Yesterday” signals the simple past.
Mistake 3
He wants became famous.
He wants to become famous.
Why?
After “to,” use the base form.
Mistake 4
They had became friends.
They had become friends.
Why?
The past perfect requires the past participle.
Easy Trick to Remember
Here’s a simple memory tip:
Think about time.
Use became when talking about something that happened in the past.
Use become when you see words like:
- has
- have
- had
- will
- can
- should
- may
- might
- to
If one of these words comes before the verb, become is usually the correct choice.
Grammar Pattern Examples
Present Simple
- I want to become stronger.
Past Simple
- I became stronger after training.
Present Perfect
- I have become stronger.
Past Perfect
- I had become stronger before the competition.
Future Simple
- I will become stronger.
Why This Difference Matters
Choosing the correct verb form improves:
- Grammar accuracy
- Writing clarity
- Professional communication
- Academic writing
- Spoken English confidence
- Test performance in exams like IELTS and TOEFL
A small grammatical mistake can change how natural your English sounds. Learning these irregular verb forms helps you communicate more confidently.
Practical Tips to Avoid Confusion
If you’re still unsure whether to choose became or become, follow these tips:
- Look for time expressions like yesterday, last year, or in 2020. These usually require became.
- Check whether a helping verb appears before the main verb. If you see has, have, or had, use become.
- After modal verbs such as can, will, should, and might, always use become.
- Practice with real sentences instead of memorizing isolated rules.
- Read books, news articles, and conversations to see how native speakers naturally use both forms.
Key Takeaways
- Become is the base form and the past participle of the verb.
- Became is the simple past tense.
- Use became for completed past actions.
- Use become after helping verbs, modal verbs, and “to.”
- Pay attention to the sentence structure before choosing the correct form.
- Regular practice makes identifying the right form much easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it correct to say “has became”?
No. The correct phrase is has become because the present perfect tense requires the past participle, not the simple past form.
Should I use “became” or “become” after “will”?
Always use become after “will.” Modal verbs are followed by the base form of the verb.
Why is “become” used twice in the verb forms?
English has many irregular verbs. For “become,” the base form and the past participle are identical, while the simple past changes to became.
Which is correct: “I became tired” or “I have become tired”?
Both are correct but express different meanings. “I became tired” refers to a finished past event, while “I have become tired” connects the past change to the present.
Is “become” an irregular verb?
Yes. It does not follow the regular “-ed” pattern. Its forms are become, became, and become.
How can I remember the difference between became and become?
A simple trick is to look for helping verbs. If the sentence includes words like has, have, had, will, or can, use become. Otherwise, when describing a completed past event, became is usually the correct choice.
Conclusion
Knowing the difference between became or become is one of the building blocks of accurate English grammar. While the two words come from the same verb, they belong to different grammatical forms and are used in different sentence structures. Became describes a completed action in the past, whereas become functions as the base form and the past participle used with helping verbs, modal verbs, and infinitives.
Once you recognize the tense and sentence pattern, choosing the correct word becomes much easier. Keep practicing with everyday examples, pay attention to verb forms when reading, and you’ll naturally develop confidence in using both correctly.
