Question 1

Why does this sentence use se volvió instead of se hizo for became?

Accepted Answer

We use volverse for permanent or deep-seated changes in personality, behavior, or character, especially when the change feels gradual or involuntary. Since becoming distrustful and very eccentric is a major psychological shift, se volvió is the perfect fit. Hacerse is usually for changes involving active effort, like learning a new profession (se hizo médico).

Question 2

Could I use se puso instead of se volvió here?

Accepted Answer

Not really. Ponerse is used for temporary physical or emotional states (like se puso triste for he got sad). Because this sentence describes a long-term personality change that happened over the years, se volvió is the natural choice.

Question 3

Is desconfiado a verb or an adjective here?

Accepted Answer

It acts as an adjective here, but it comes from the past participle of the verb desconfiar (to distrust). In Spanish, many adjectives describing states or personality traits are formed this way and must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe (in this case, masculine singular to match el hombre).

Question 4

Why is over the years translated as Con los años instead of using a direct translation for over?

Accepted Answer

Con los años (literally with the years) is the standard, natural phrase used in Spanish to express that something happened gradually as time passed. Translating over literally here would sound very unnatural to a native speaker.

Con los años, el hombre se volvió desconfiado y muy excéntrico.

Breakdown of Con los años, el hombre se volvió desconfiado y muy excéntrico.

Questions & Answers about Con los años, el hombre se volvió desconfiado y muy excéntrico.

Learn Con los años, el hombre se volvió desconfiado y muy excéntrico and more in Spanish