DELE A2 Guide: Spanish Verbs of Change and Transformation

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Key Takeaways

• Master essential verbs of change: ponerse, volverse, hacerse, llegar a ser
• Learn the nuances and specific uses of each verb
• Understand when to use each verb for different types of change
• Practice with DELE-focused scenarios for exam success

Welcome to your complete guide to Spanish Verbs of Change and Transformation. These special verbs help you describe personal changes, emotional states, and transformations – crucial skills for the DELE A2 speaking and writing sections. Choosing the right verb of change will make your Spanish more precise and natural.

The Four Key Verbs of Change

1. PONERSE (+ adjective)
Used for: Temporary physical or emotional states
Often for: Sudden changes, involuntary reactions

Examples:

• “Me pongo nervioso cuando hablo en público.” (I get nervous when I speak in public.)
• “Se puso pálido cuando escuchó la noticia.” (He turned pale when he heard the news.)
• “Nos ponemos contentos cuando llega el verano.” (We become happy when summer arrives.)

Common with PONERSE:

• nervioso/a (nervous)
• contento/a (happy)
• triste (sad)
• rojo/a (red – blushing)
• pálido/a (pale)

2. VOLVERSE (+ adjective)
Used for: More permanent character changes
Often for: Drastic personality transformations

Examples:

• “Se volvió muy serio después del accidente.” (He became very serious after the accident.)
• “Me volví más paciente con la edad.” (I became more patient with age.)
• “Se volvieron arrogantes después de ganar dinero.” (They became arrogant after winning money.)

Common with VOLVERSE:

• loco/a (crazy)
• serio/a (serious)
• arrogante (arrogant)
• amable (kind)
• paciente (patient)

3. HACERSE (+ noun/profession)
Used for: Achievements through effort
Often for: Careers, religions, political affiliations

Examples:

• “Se hizo médico como su padre.” (He became a doctor like his father.)
• “Me hice vegetariano hace dos años.” (I became a vegetarian two years ago.)
• “Se hicieron ricos con su negocio.” (They became rich with their business.)

Common with HACERSE:

• médico/a (doctor)
• abogado/a (lawyer)
• rico/a (rich)
• famoso/a (famous)
• vegetariano/a (vegetarian)

4. LLEGAR A SER (+ noun)
Used for: Long processes and achievements
Often for: Professional goals after much effort

Examples:

• “Llegó a ser director de la empresa.” (He became the director of the company.)
• “Llegaron a ser los mejores en su campo.” (They became the best in their field.)
• “Después de años de estudio, llegó a ser profesor.” (After years of study, he became a teacher.)

Key Differences and When to Use Each

Temporary vs. Permanent:

• PONERSE: Temporary states (emotions, physical reactions)
• VOLVERSE: More permanent character changes

Effort vs. Natural Process:

• HACERSE: Conscious effort, choices
• LLEGAR A SER: Long process with achievement

Involuntary vs. Voluntary:

• PONERSE: Often involuntary (blushing, getting nervous)
• HACERSE: Conscious decisions

DELE A2 Practical Scenarios

Personal Development:

• “Me he vuelto más organizado con el tiempo.” (I have become more organized with time.)
• “Se puso muy estudioso para el examen.” (He became very studious for the exam.)

Career and Life Changes:

• “Después de la universidad, se hizo ingeniero.” (After university, he became an engineer.)
• “Llegó a ser jefa de departamento después de 10 años.” (She became department head after 10 years.)

Emotional Situations:

• “Me pongo feliz cuando veo a mis amigos.” (I become happy when I see my friends.)
• “Se volvió muy callado después del incidente.” (He became very quiet after the incident.)

Important Grammar Rules

1. Reflexive Forms:
All these verbs are used reflexively:

• me pongo, te pones, se pone…
• me vuelvo, te vuelves, se vuelve…
• me hago, te haces, se hace…

2. Adjective Agreement:
Adjectives must match the subject in gender and number:

• “Me pongo nerviosa.” (feminine speaker)
• “Se pusieron contentos.” (masculine plural)

3. Noun Agreement with HACERSE:
Nouns must match the subject:

• “Me hice profesora.” (feminine speaker)
• “Se hicieron médicos.” (plural)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Wrong Verb Choice:

• ✅ “Me pongo nervioso en los exámenes.” (temporary)
• ❌ “Me hago nervioso en los exámenes.”

2. Forgetting Reflexive Pronouns:

• ✅ “Se volvió muy serio.”
• ❌ “Volvió muy serio.”

3. Incorrect Adjective Agreement:

• ✅ “Me puse contenta.” (feminine)
• ❌ “Me puse contento.”

DELE A2 Exam Tips

• Speaking Section: Use verbs of change when describing personal growth
• Writing Section: Show variety in describing transformations
• Listening Section: Recognize types of changes in conversations
• Key Contexts: Personal stories, career changes, emotional descriptions

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct verb:

• Cuando como mariscos, ___ enfermo. (ponerse/hacerse)
• Después de estudiar mucho, ___ abogado. (volverse/hacerse)
• Con los años, ___ más tolerante. (ponerse/volverse)

Answers:

1. me pongo
2. se hizo
3. me he vuelto

Memory Aids

• PONERSE = Temporary states (like putting on clothes)
• VOLVERSE = Character changes (a return to a different self)
• HACERSE = Conscious achievements (making yourself into something)
• LLEGAR A SER = Long processes (arriving to be something)

Next Step: Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to master verbs of change?

Take our DELE A2 Verbs of Change Quiz here to ensure you’re prepared for the exam.

What’s Next in Your DELE A2 Journey?

• Need reflexive verb practice? Study DELE A2 Reflexive Verbs
• Ready for more verbs? Review DELE A2 Verbs with Prepositions
• Want related topics? Learn DELE A2 Adjectives
• Practice all A2 grammar? Return to DELE A2 Grammar Hub

Looking for a deeper dive?
This guide covers the essentials for the DELE A2 exam. If you want to explore more verbs of change, additional nuances, and advanced usage patterns, check out our complete guide: Spanish Verbs of Change: The Complete Guide

Master verbs of change and you’ll describe personal transformations with precision and authenticity in Spanish!