Learn Spanish (Spain): Antes era un padre duro, pero ahora se ha vuelto comprensivo. - Before he was a harsh father, but now he has become understanding.

Antes era un padre duro, pero ahora se ha vuelto comprensivo.

Before he was a harsh father, but now he has become understanding.

Breakdown of Antes era un padre duro, pero ahora se ha vuelto comprensivo.

Questions & Answers about Antes era un padre duro, pero ahora se ha vuelto comprensivo.

Why do we use 'se ha vuelto' here instead of another verb of change like 'se ha puesto'?

Volverse is used for deep, lasting changes in a person's character or personality. Going from a harsh father to an understanding one is a profound psychological shift, making se ha vuelto the perfect choice. Ponerse would only be used for a temporary mood or physical state.

Why is the first verb ('era') in the imperfect tense, but the second ('se ha vuelto') is in the present perfect?

Era is in the imperfect because it sets the scene and describes an ongoing state in the past (antes). We use the present perfect se ha vuelto because the result of that change is relevant right now, which is highlighted by the word ahora (now).

Is 'comprensivo' a false friend? It looks a lot like the English word 'comprehensive'.

Yes, it is a false friend! When describing a person, comprensivo means understanding or sympathetic. If you want to say comprehensive in Spanish (like a comprehensive guide), you would use a word like completo or exhaustivo.

Can 'duro' be used for both physical objects and people?

Exactly. Just like the English word hard, duro can describe something physically solid, or it can describe someone with a tough, strict, or harsh personality, as it does in this sentence.