Just want to check this:

Question

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.

Answer

Hola MarcosYes (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" : ))