Question 1

Why do we use se volvió here instead of se hizo for "he became"?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, volverse is used for deep, often involuntary changes in someone's personality, behavior, or character (like becoming distrustful, cynical, or crazy). You wouldn't use hacerse here because hacerse is typically for transformations that take deliberate effort, like becoming a doctor or a vegetarian.

Question 2

Could I use se puso instead of se volvió in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

You could, but it changes the meaning. Ponerse is used for temporary moods or physical reactions (like getting angry or turning red). By using se volvió, the sentence implies that becoming distrustful was a deeper, lasting shift in his personality, not just a passing feeling.

Question 3

Why does this sentence mix the past continuous (estaba construyendo) with the preterite (se volvió)?

Accepted Answer

This is a classic pattern for telling stories in the past. The past continuous (estaba construyendo) sets the scene with an ongoing background action ("I was in the middle of building"). The preterite (se volvió) describes the specific event that happened or "interrupted" during that background action.

Question 4

Is the pronoun él necessary here, since Spanish usually drops subject pronouns?

Accepted Answer

It is highly recommended here for clarity and contrast. Because estaba construyendo can technically mean "I was building" or "he/she was building," the context relies on it meaning "I". Adding él (he) creates a clear contrast between the two subjects: I was doing the building, when he went through the change.

Estaba construyendo la cabaña cuando él se volvió desconfiado.

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