Mastering English: Understanding the Difference Between ‘Become’ and ‘Becomes’

EllieB

Ever found yourself tangled in the web of English grammar, wondering when to use ‘become’ and when ‘becomes’? You’re not alone. Exploring through this maze can be tricky, but once you’ve got it down, it’s a game changer.

In this text, we’ll unravel these often-confusing verbs that seem so similar yet function differently. We’ll investigate into their proper usage within sentences and highlight some common mistakes to avoid. By the end of your read, you’ll have mastered the artful distinction between ‘become’ and ‘becomes’, elevating your language skills up a notch! So let’s dive right in…

Understanding the Basics of “Become” and “Becomes”

The Role of Grammar in Usage

Grammar plays a vital role when it comes to using ‘become’ or ‘becomes’. These two words aren’t interchangeable. They’ve specific usage rules that hinge on grammar.

Consider the subject-verb agreement, an essential rule in English language grammar. It’s about matching singular subjects with singular verbs and plural ones with plural verbs. In this context, ‘become’ is used for first-person (I), second person (you), third person plurals (they) as well as both singular and plural pronouns except third person singular form which uses ‘becomes’. For instance:

1. I become
2. You become
   3.I becomes

A violation of these grammatical norms may lead to sentence construction errors.

Context-driven Usage Examples

Context also determines whether you’ll use ‘become’ or ‘becomes’. Here are examples illustrating their proper use depending on different contexts:

1 . Statement : “He changes drastically when he joins new friends.”
Conditional statement : “If he joins new friends , then he changes drastically.”

This scenario requires you to focus more on his change rather than him joining up with fresh faces.

2 . Statement: “She revises, so she always scores high grades.”
Conditional statement: If she revises consistently, then her grades improve significantly.”

Exploring the Differences in Usage

In this section, we’ll investigate deeper into the distinguishing factors of ‘become’ and ‘becomes’. This exploration helps you gain a broader understanding of their application.

Singular vs. Plurals

Understanding how to correctly use verbs with singular and plural subjects is crucial for proper English grammar. The distinction between using ‘become’ or ‘becomes’ lies primarily within subject-verb agreement rules.

For instance, consider two sentences:

1. I become tired after work.
2. She becomes exhausted from her job every day.

The first sentence uses “I”, which calls for “become”. In contrast, in the second sentence where “She” stands as a third-person singular pronoun demands “becomes”.

Formal vs. Informal Contexts

A keen eye may notice that these terms also find different usage based on formal and informal contexts — something not strictly governed by grammatical rules but more so societal language norms.

Example:
Consider another pair of instances:

1. You will probably become hungry later.
2. Reckon you might gets peckish later?

Implications of Incorrect Usage

Moving beyond the basic understanding, it’s essential to grasp how incorrect usage might affect communication. Improper use can lead not only to confusion but also potentially alter meaning and cause misunderstandings.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In English language learning, there are common mistakes that many learners make while using ‘become’ and ‘becomes’. Here are a few:

1. Incorrect Subject-Verb Agreement: Using ‘becomes’ when referring multiple subjects or pronouns (except he/she/it). For example, saying “They becomes friends” instead of “They become friends.”
2. Misuse in Tense Formation: Wrongly employing ‘become’ in place of ‘became’, the past tense form is another frequent error made by beginners.
3. Unnecessary Usage: Sometimes, one may unnecessarily insert these verbs where they aren’t required contextually like stating “I am become tired” rather than simply expressing “I am tired.”

Awareness about such pitfalls helps you enhance your proficiency considerably over time.

Tips for Non-native Speakers

For non-native speakers aiming at mastering this aspect of English grammar here’re some practical tips:

1.Consistent Practice with Examples: Understand rules isn’t enough; application matters too! Hence practice sentences involving different contexts that demand either ’‘beocme’ or ‘comes’.

2.Engage More Actively: Don’t limit yourself just reading these verbs; incorporate them into writing and speaking exercises as well.

3.Make Use Of Language Apps: Numerous online platforms offer quizzes on subject-verb agreement which can be very useful.

4.Seek Feedback: Have native speakers review your work regularly so you know exactly what needs improvement!

Conclusion

So, you’ve journeyed through the nuances of ‘become’ and ‘becomes’. You now know it’s all about mastering subject-verb agreement rules, understanding singular versus plural subjects and context. Missteps can indeed cause confusion but remember, consistent practice is key to nailing this aspect of English grammar. Embrace tools like language apps or engage with native speakers for feedback as they’ll help reinforce what you’ve learned here today. The artful use of these verbs isn’t out-of-reach—it’s simply a matter of being mindful in your communication while continually honing your skills. Here’s to confident conversation without stumbling over ‘become’ and ‘becomes’. Your journey towards enhanced proficiency continues!