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Mi abuelo se hace anciano, pero es sabio.

Mi abuelo se hace anciano, pero es sabio.
My grandfather is becoming elderly, but he is wise.
From Lesson 290:Progressive changes (hacerse)·Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Mi abuelo se hace anciano, pero es sabio.

Why do we use se hace here to mean "is becoming"?
Hacerse is a verb of change used for gradual, natural evolutions that happen over time, such as aging. It is the standard way to express that someone is getting older or transitioning into a new stage of life.
Why use anciano instead of viejo?
While both mean "old", anciano translates more closely to "elderly" and is much more respectful when talking about people, especially your own relatives. Using viejo to describe a person can sometimes sound harsh or dismissive.
Why do we use es sabio with the verb ser instead of estar?
Wisdom is viewed as a core, defining characteristic of the grandfather's personality rather than a temporary state or mood. For permanent or inherent traits, we always use ser.
The English translation says "is becoming", so why doesn't the Spanish use the progressive tense like se está haciendo?
In Spanish, the simple present tense (se hace) is very commonly used for ongoing processes or facts happening around the present time. While you could perfectly say se está haciendo anciano, the simple present captures the idea of an ongoing progressive change just as naturally.

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