Linking verbs that describe changes

We can use become, get, go and turn as a linking verb. These types of linking verbs connect the subject of the verb to an adjective and describe changes.   

• She hoped to become popular. 
• I'm already starting to go bald. 
• My work is getting better. 
• The leaves are turning brown. 

Become and get can be used to describe changes of emotional or physical state, or situation. We use become in formal cases. 

• He wants to become/get involved in politics. 
• She became/got pregnant after two months.  

We use get with adjectives such as old, cold or dark to describe natural changes. 

• It gets dark very early in the winter. 
• We're all getting older every day. 

Go is used especially to describe changes that are not desirable 

• My grandfather is going deaf. 
• He went blind in one eye.  
• He went crazy and started to scream.  
• The milk has gone/turned sour. 
• The bananas are starting to go rotten. 

Turn can be also used with an adjective to mean 'become' or 'change into a different state or condition'. 

• The weather is turning cold. 
• He turned nasty when I refused to give him another loan.  

We can use both turn and go to describe changes of colour. 

I started to turn/go gray when I was thirty. 

His face turned/went red with embarrassment.  

She suddenly turned/went pale. 

Grammar Cards