Me pongo / estoy

Question

I was speaking to a friend from Chile and she said (when speaking English to me), "Me pongo un poco nerviosa". I asked her how this was different than "Estoy un poco nerviosa", but I am not sure that I understand the difference....

Answer 1

I think it's basically the difference between "I get nervous" and "I am nervous". You can use "ponerse" to say that something makes you nervous. Las arañas me ponen nerviosa.

Just what I think. I'm not an expert!

excelente:) - 00494d19, Nov 6, 2011

Aprobación de la maestra me pone feliz! - MLucie, Nov 6, 2011

Las arañas me poneN nerviosa. - macapi, Nov 6, 2011

Sí! Gracias! - MLucie, Nov 6, 2011

Good explanation, mlucie. - annierats, Nov 6, 2011

Answer 2

Ponerse=to become. So if she said "me pongo nerviosa", it did mean "I'm becoming/getting nervous."

Gracias! - Incógnito, Nov 6, 2011

Answer 3

Estoy un poco nerviosa: I'm a little nervous. Me pongo un poco nerviosa: I get/become a little nervous.

Ponerse means to get/ to become, it's used with adjectives of temporary emotions and conidtions. Ponerse triste, contento, nervioso..etc.

Volverse also means to get/ to become but it's used with adjectives of profound or negative changes. Volverse loco, alérgico...etc.

Hacerse also means to become and it's used with adjectives and nouns of permanent changes. Hacerse rico, popular. It's interchangeable with llegar a ser.

Te pusiste enferma porque siempre camies en la lluvia.

Pablo va a volverse loco con todo el trabajo que tiene.

Mark estudío mucho y se hizo (llegó a ser) doctor.

macapi, thanks for taking it a step further....my next question was how is it different than "hacerse"!!!! Thanks! - Incógnito, Nov 6, 2011

Blessings for your informative post, Macapi!! - territurtle, Nov 8, 2011

Answer 4

Great, thanks!!