"be" or "become" - what I want to be in future?

Question

Say for example,

In the year 2019, I will be twenty-five years old. I might an astronaut.

Similarly,

In the year 2023, I will (be or become?) a doctor.

Which one would be best used in the sentence, be or become? Thanks for helping! ^o^

Whl626 · Accepted Answer

" become ' means you turn from one state into another.

Now you are not an astronaut but turn into that in 2019. " Be " just a state of being.

So I myself choose ' become '

but it doesn't seem wrong to use ' be ' I guess

The same goes for the second sentence

Help Wanted · Answer

Thanks for helping again, whl626! ^o^

Krmjr · Answer

My vote:

In the first sentence, both "be" and "become" are correct, depending on what exactly you are trying to say. If you are trying to describe your life in 2019, when you are twenty-five years old, then "be" is correct, as in the first sentence (that is, you had become an astronaut by 2019). If 2019 is the first year you are an astronaut, use "become". If you are just generally speculating about the future, and want to someday be/become an astronaut, use "become".

The same goes for the second sentence. If 2023 is the first year you are a doctor, that is, the point at which you turned into a doctor, then use "become". Otherwise, use "be" to say that by 2023 you were already a doctor.

Navy bee · Answer

Further evaluation may be necessary

Further evaluation may become necessary

Anonymous · Answer

I will become a doctor

"be" or "become" - what I want to be in future?

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