Common Spanish Mistakes with “Volverse” and “Hacerse”

Introduction

Learning Spanish grammar can be challenging, especially when dealing with verbs that express changes or transformations. Two verbs that often confuse English speakers are volverse and hacerse, both of which can mean to become in English. However, these verbs are not interchangeable, and using them incorrectly is one of the most common mistakes that intermediate Spanish learners make. Understanding the nuances between volverse and hacerse is essential for achieving fluency and speaking Spanish naturally. This comprehensive guide will help you master the differences and learn how to use these verbs correctly in various contexts.

Understanding the Basics: What Do Volverse and Hacerse Mean?

At first glance, both volverse and hacerse appear to function similarly because they can both translate to the English word become. However, the contexts in which you use each verb are quite different. The confusion arises because English uses the same word to describe various types of changes, while Spanish distinguishes between them more precisely.

Volverse primarily refers to sudden, involuntary, or emotional changes. When something se vuelve a certain way, it typically implies a sudden transformation or a change that happens to someone against their will or without intentional action. Hacerse, on the other hand, describes gradual changes or transformations that involve effort, time, or deliberate action. Understanding this fundamental distinction is the key to avoiding common mistakes.

Volverse: Sudden and Involuntary Changes

The Nature of Volverse Transformations

Volverse is used when describing changes that are typically sudden, emotional, or beyond someone’s immediate control. These transformations often happen quickly and may involve a shift in attitude, emotion, or state. The subject of the sentence undergoes a change that is not necessarily deliberate or gradual.

Consider these examples:

Mi hermano se volvió muy agresivo después de perder su trabajo.
My brother became very aggressive after losing his job.

La situación se volvió complicada durante la reunión.
The situation became complicated during the meeting.

Ella se volvió loca cuando escuchó las noticias.
She went crazy when she heard the news.

In each of these sentences, volverse is used because the changes are sudden, emotional, or involuntary. The people or situations did not gradually plan or work toward these transformations; they simply occurred.

Common Mistakes with Volverse

One frequent error is using volverse when describing a deliberate, intentional change. For example, many learners mistakenly say se volvió ingeniero (he became an engineer) when they should use hacerse instead. Learning a profession or pursuing a career involves effort and time, so hacerse is the appropriate choice.

Another common mistake involves using volverse with personality traits that develop over time. While volverse can work with sudden emotional changes, it does not fit when describing gradual personality development. For instance, saying se volvió más inteligente (he became more intelligent) is awkward because intelligence develops gradually, making hacerse a better option.

Hacerse: Gradual Changes and Intentional Transformations

The Nature of Hacerse Transformations

Hacerse describes changes that involve effort, time, or deliberate action. When someone se hace something, it typically implies that they have worked toward that goal or that a gradual process has taken place. This verb is commonly used with professions, social positions, skills, and characteristics that develop over time.

Here are some clear examples:

Juan se hizo doctor después de estudiar durante ocho años.
Juan became a doctor after studying for eight years.

Mi prima se hizo muy responsable gracias a su educación.
My cousin became very responsible thanks to her education.

Se hizo amigo de todos en la clase mediante el trabajo en equipo.
He became friends with everyone in the class through teamwork.

In each case, hacerse is appropriate because the changes involved effort, time, or a gradual process. These transformations did not happen suddenly; they required action and development.

Hacerse with Professional and Social Positions

One of the most common uses of hacerse is when describing someone becoming a professional or achieving a particular social status. This is one area where English speakers frequently make mistakes because English does not distinguish as clearly between different types of becoming.

Se hizo abogada después de años de estudio.
She became a lawyer after years of study.

Mi tío se hizo empresario con mucho esfuerzo.
My uncle became a businessman with a lot of effort.

Ella se hizo presidenta de la organización.
She became president of the organization.

In all of these examples, hacerse is correct because achieving a profession or position requires time and deliberate effort.

Key Differences at a Glance

To help solidify your understanding, here is a comparison of the main differences between volverse and hacerse:

Volverse indicates sudden or involuntary changes, emotional shifts, and transformations that happen quickly or unexpectedly. These changes are often emotional in nature and do not require effort or planning from the subject.

Hacerse indicates gradual changes, intentional transformations, and achievements that require effort and time. These changes typically involve professions, skills, personality development, and social positions.

A helpful way to remember the distinction is that volverse is about what happens to you, while hacerse is about what you make of yourself or what you work toward becoming.

Special Cases and Additional Nuances

Volverse with Colors and Physical States

Volverse is also used when describing changes in color or physical appearance, particularly when these changes are noticeable or sudden. Spanish speakers commonly use volverse in these contexts:

El cielo se volvió gris por las nubes.
The sky became gray because of the clouds.

Sus mejillas se volvieron rojas de vergüenza.
Her cheeks became red with embarrassment.

La leche se volvió agria.
The milk became sour.

Hacerse in Idiomatic Expressions

Hacerse also appears in various idiomatic expressions that learners should know:

Hacerse el enfermo means to pretend to be sick.
Hacerse el desentendido means to pretend not to understand or to feign ignorance.
Hacerse tarde means to get late.

These expressions use hacerse in ways that do not strictly fit the pattern of gradual change, so it is important to learn them as fixed expressions.

Ponerse: A Third Verb to Consider

While this article focuses on volverse and hacerse, it is worth mentioning ponerse briefly, as it is another verb that can mean to become. Ponerse typically describes temporary states or changes in mood and is used far more frequently in everyday Spanish than either volverse or hacerse.

Me puse nervioso antes del examen.
I became nervous before the exam.

Se puso triste cuando escuchó la noticia.
She became sad when she heard the news.

Ponerse is ideal for describing emotional states, moods, and temporary physical conditions. If a change is temporary or mood-related, ponerse is usually the best choice.

Practice Examples and Common Mistakes

Incorrect vs. Correct Usage

To help reinforce your learning, here are some common mistakes with corrections:

Incorrect: Se volvió ingeniero después de la universidad.
Correct: Se hizo ingeniero después de la universidad.
(Explanation: Becoming an engineer requires time and effort.)

Incorrect: Se hizo furioso cuando vio el desastre.
Correct: Se volvió furioso cuando vio el desastre.
(Explanation: This was a sudden, emotional change.)

Incorrect: Mi abuela se hizo más sabia con la edad.
Correct: Mi abuela se volvió más sabia con la edad. (or se hizo más sabia)
(Explanation: While both can work here, volverse emphasizes the transformation, while hacerse emphasizes the effort and time involved.)

Real-World Usage and Cultural Notes

In everyday Spanish conversation, ponerse is far more common than either volverse or hacerse when describing emotional changes. However, native Spanish speakers do use volverse and hacerse regularly in more formal contexts or when precision is important.

Understanding the nuances between these verbs will help you sound more natural and avoid the grammatical errors that are common among non-native speakers. Spanish teachers and native speakers particularly notice when learners confuse these verbs, as it reveals a gap in grammatical understanding.

Conclusion

Mastering the differences between volverse and hacerse is an important step in achieving intermediate-level Spanish proficiency. Remember that volverse describes sudden, involuntary, or emotional changes, while hacerse describes gradual transformations that require effort, time, or deliberate action. By understanding these distinctions and practicing with examples, you will be able to use these verbs correctly and naturally in your Spanish conversations and writing. With continued practice and exposure to Spanish media, these distinctions will become intuitive, and you will avoid the common mistakes that plague many learners at this level.