One of the examples is:
Su actitud se volvió violenta de repente.
Is it correct to assume that the change is a lasting one, as with someone who got hit on the head with a shovel and after that was a violent person?
Compared to:
Su actitud se puso violenta de repente.
In this case, cowboys in a saloon in a Western movie insult someone and he stands up quickly and draws his gun?
Just want to double check that these differences are correct. Thanks.
Hola Marcos
Yes (sort of) - ponerse and volverse, as you've seen in the lesson, are sometimes interchangeable, the former implying more of a sudden/temporary state and the latter implying more permanence. But you should take this general theory with a pinch of salt, really, because it also depends on the actual context and words used each time. In this case, with "actitud" the use of "ponerse violenta" wouldn't be a chosen option for natives, and I don't think there is specific reason, it's just not normally used when you refer to "attitude". You would normally stick with "volverse" - then the "de repente" will give it the sudden/temporary nuance.
Sorry I can't be more definite, it is just there is no clear cut rule with these "changing" verbs. The cases explained in the lesson are the most general ones.
I like your example about "someone being hit on the head with a shovel" : ))
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard
Find your Spanish level