17.2 verbs of change - an overview on the system


  volverse ponerse hacerse convertirse en quedarse resultar* llegar a ser
subject person yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
subject thing   yes yes yes   yes yes
psychic change yes yes     yes    
issue change   yes yes yes   yes yes
process is definitive yes     yes yes yes yes
process is changeable   yes   yes      
change is sudden yes yes   yes
emphasis on result not on type of change
 
change is slow yes   yes yes yes
knowingly     yes   yes
just happened yes yes   yes yes
adjective to follow yes yes yes   yes yes yes
noun to follow yes   yes yes   yes yes
emphasis on processes yes yes yes        
emphasis on result         yes yes yes

* resultar is a special case because it can be translated also with to result and then a 1:1 translation can be made. Even though it might not be common spoken language.

  Example 1: There is no change, the only possible translation is resultar

Esto resultó un desastre total, puesto que yo no tenía ningún interés en el tema.
= It resulted in a total fiasko because I wasn't interested in this topic.
= It turned out a fiasko, because I wasn't interested in the this topic.

Resultó una mentira.
= It turned out to be a lie.
(= It resulted to be a lie.)

  to emphasise a change convertirse would be the better choice

Resulta una persona especialmente accesible, siempre dispuesta a contestar a cualquier pregunta o duda.
= He turned out to be a very accesible person ready to answer every question.
Se convierte en una persona especialmente accesible, siempre dispuesta a contestar a cualquier pregunta.
= He turns to be a very accesible person ready to answer every question. (it not always has been that way)

 some more examples:

Cinco de ellos resultaron heridos en el accidente.
= Five of them were injured in the accident.
= Five of them resulted to be injured in the accident.
Un policía resultó herido cuando intentaba reprimir a estudiantes de la Marcha Alternativa en Madrid.
= A police officer was injured when he tried to push back students of the "alternative march" in Madrid.
= A police office resulted injured when he tried to push back students of the "alternative march" in Madrid.


Sometimes other Spanish verbs are possible sometimes not:

correct:Un opositor resultó herido en la protesta.
A critic was injured in the protest.
incorrect:Un opositor se volvió herido en la protesta.

Now let's have a look at the single verbs and their use.






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