Learn Spanish (Latin America): El paciente se pone nervioso si el efecto se va pronto. - The patient gets nervous if the effect goes away soon.

The verb poner normally means "to put." But when we use it as a pronominal verb (ponerse), its meaning changes to "to become" or "to get," especially when talking about temporary physical or emotional changes. Here, se pone nervioso means "gets nervous."

What is the difference between va and se va in this sentence?

Va comes from ir (to go), which usually focuses on moving toward a destination. By adding the pronoun se, the verb becomes irse (to leave or to go away), which focuses on the act of departing or disappearing. So, el efecto se va means "the effect goes away."

Why are both verbs (se pone and se va) in the present tense if we are talking about a future possibility?

In Spanish, when you make a realistic "if" statement using si, you use the present tense for the condition. Even though "if the effect goes away" implies a future possibility, the si clause requires the present tense. The result clause (se pone nervioso) is also in the present tense here because it states a general, predictable reaction.

Can I use se hace instead of se pone for "gets nervous"?