Breakdown of Ojalá mi amigo no se volviera tan obsesivo.
el amigo
the male friend
no
no, not
mi
my
tan
as / so
ojalá
hopefully / I hope
volverse
to become (involuntary change / personality)
obsesivo
obsessive
Questions & Answers about Ojalá mi amigo no se volviera tan obsesivo.
Why use se volviera instead of other verbs of becoming like se hiciera or se pusiera?
Volverse is the go-to verb for deep, often involuntary changes in personality, character, or psychological state. Since becoming obsessive is a lasting behavioral or mental change, volverse is the perfect fit. Ponerse is used for temporary emotional states (like becoming sad or nervous), while hacerse implies a voluntary change that takes effort (like becoming a doctor).
Why is volviera in the past (imperfect) subjunctive if the translation is "wouldn't become"?
The word ojalá triggers the subjunctive. Using the imperfect subjunctive (volviera) creates a hypothetical wish, similar to "I wish he wouldn't" or "If only he didn't." It implies the friend is likely already acting obsessive, and the speaker wishes reality were different. If you used the present subjunctive (Ojalá no se vuelva), it would mean "I hope he doesn't become"—which frames it as a real, open possibility for the future.
Could I use the other imperfect subjunctive ending and say se volviese?
Yes, volviese and volviera are grammatically identical in meaning. However, in Latin America, the -ra endings are far more common in everyday speech, so se volviera is what you will hear most often.
Why does the sentence use tan instead of muy?
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