The Verb "Become" in English

Conjugation of "To Become"

The verb "become" is an irregular verb. (This means that "become" does not form its simple past tense or its past participle by adding "-ed" or "-d" to the base form.)

The Five Forms of "To Become"

FormbecomeAlternative Name
Base FormbecomeInfinitive Form
The -S FormbecomesThird Person Singular Form
Past FormbecameSimple Past Tense
The -ING FormbecomingPresent Participle Form
The Past Participle Formbecome[no alternative name]
the verb to become in English

Example Sentences with To Become

It's your go. Select the correct version of "to become":

"To Become" in All the Tenses

The tables below show how "become" conjugates in the past, present, and future tenses.

Past Tenses

PersonSimple PastPast Progressive TensePast Perfect TensePast Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • became
  • became
  • became
  • became
  • became
  • became
The simple past tense is for a completed activity that happened in the past.
  • was becoming
  • were becoming
  • was becoming
  • were becoming
  • were becoming
  • were becoming
The past progressive tense is for an ongoing activity in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action.
  • had become
  • had become
  • had become
  • had become
  • had become
  • had become
The past perfect tense is for emphasizing that an action was completed before another took place.
  • had been becoming
  • had been becoming
  • had been becoming
  • had been becoming
  • had been becoming
  • had been becoming
The past perfect progressive tense is for showing that an ongoing action in the past has ended.

Present Tenses

PersonSimple PresentPresent Progressive TensePresent Perfect TensePresent Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • become
  • become
  • becomes
  • become
  • become
  • become
The simple present tense is mostly for a fact or a habit.
  • am becoming
  • are becoming
  • is becoming
  • are becoming
  • are becoming
  • are becoming
The present progressive tense is for an ongoing action in the present.
  • have become
  • have become
  • has become
  • have become
  • have become
  • have become
The present perfect tense is for an action that began in the past. (Often, the action continues into the present.)
  • have been becoming
  • have been becoming
  • has been becoming
  • have been becoming
  • have been becoming
  • have been becoming
The present perfect progressive tense is for a continuous activity that began in the past and continues into the present (or finished very recently).

Future Tenses

PersonSimple FutureFuture Progressive TenseFuture Perfect TenseFuture Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • will become
  • will become
  • will become
  • will become
  • will become
  • will become
The simple future tense is for an action that will occur in the future.
  • will be becoming
  • will be becoming
  • will be becoming
  • will be becoming
  • will be becoming
  • will be becoming
The future progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will occur in the future.
  • will have become
  • will have become
  • will have become
  • will have become
  • will have become
  • will have become
The future perfect tense is for an action that will have been completed at some point in the future.
  • will have been becoming
  • will have been becoming
  • will have been becoming
  • will have been becoming
  • will have been becoming
  • will have been becoming
The future perfect progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future.

Most Common Irregular Verbs

The two most common irregular verbs in English are "be" and "have." These pages give more details about these two verbs: Here are the next 10 most common irregular verbs in English:

Most Common Irregular Verbs

The two most common irregular verbs in English are "be" and "have." These pages give more details about these two verbs: Here are the next 10 most common irregular verbs in English:
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.