The word "became" follows the standard English pronunciation rules, with the "b" and "c" consonants having their usual sounds. The "e" is pronounced as a short "eh" sound, followed by a soft "k" sound from the "a". The final "me" is pronounced with a long "e" sound, followed by a silent "d" at the end. The IPA phonetic transcription for "became" is /bɪˈkeɪm/. Proper spelling is important for conveying meaning and clarity in written communication.
Became is the past participle of the verb "become." It can be used as a linking verb or an intransitive verb. When used as a linking verb, it connects the subject of a sentence with a noun, pronoun, or adjective that describes or identifies it. As such, it indicates a change in state or condition, often implying a transformation or transition from one state to another. It is commonly used to describe changes in physical appearance, job roles, social status, or personal growth.
When used as an intransitive verb, "became" implies the process of coming into existence or being transformed into something else. It signifies a change from a previous state to a new one, often indicating the fulfillment of a condition or the accomplishment of a goal.
In both cases, "became" typically conveys a sense of progress or development. It indicates a shift from a previous state or condition to a new or desired state, reflecting the idea of change and growth over time.
Overall, "became" is a versatile verb that highlights the process of transformation, development, or transition, capturing the essence of change and progress in various contexts.
See become.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "became" originated from the merging of two Old English words, "be" and "cuman".
1. "Be": This Old English word is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "bi" meaning "about, around". It was commonly used as a prefix, adding a sense of completeness or intensifying the verb it was attached to.
2. "Cuman": This Old English verb means "to come" and is related to the Old High German word "gicuman" and Old Norse word "koma", all with the same meaning.
When these two words were combined, "becuman" was formed, meaning "to come about, come to be, arrive". Over time, this word gradually evolved to "become" which is used today in Modern English to indicate a process of transformation or a change in state from one condition to another.