become like + person/thing
Showing similarity after change
Use 'become like' when someone or something grows similar to another person or thing.
She has become like her mentor in many ways
"become like" or "become of"?
'Become like' and 'become of' have different meanings and grammar. They are not interchangeable.
Quick answer
Different meanings of become like and become of
Use 'become like' when talking about changing to resemble someone or something. Use 'become of' in questions about what happened to a person or thing.
He has become like his father over the years
What became of the old theatre?
The town became like a ghost village
Nobody knew what had become of the missing files
What became of the old theatre?
The town became like a ghost village
Nobody knew what had become of the missing files
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
what became of + noun
Asking what happened
Use 'become of' to ask about the fate or result of someone or something.
What became of your first business idea?
become + adjective
Describing a change of state
Very often, 'become' is used without a preposition before an adjective.
The sky became dark before the storm
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
become like
The apprentice became like his teacher.
grow similar to someone or something
become of
What became of the documents?
what happened to someone or something
become + adjective
The room became quiet.
change into a state
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using 'become of' for similarity
'Become of' does not mean resemble.
✕ She became of her mother. ✓ She became like her mother.Using 'become like' to ask about fate
Use 'become of' in questions about what happened.
✕ What became like the missing bag? ✓ What became of the missing bag?Adding an unnecessary preposition
Many uses of 'become' take no preposition.
✕ He became into angry. ✓ He became angry.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. What became ___ the old cinema?
2. Over time, she became ___ her older sister.
3. The weather became ___ suddenly.
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Frequently asked questions
Is 'become of' old-fashioned?
It is still standard English, especially in questions such as 'What became of him?'.
Can I say 'become like that'?
Yes. It means change so that something resembles a certain condition or behaviour.
Does 'become' always need a complement?
Usually yes. It is commonly followed by an adjective, noun phrase, or expression such as 'like'.
Related preposition guides
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