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My friend recently said to me:

> 眠くなってきた 【ねむくなってきた】

Which, I think means "I became sleepy".

But it seems to me that it is the same as saying:

> 眠くなった

How does the addition of `きた` change this phrase?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-08-13T04:17:41.220
2626
2011-08-13T05:40:53.963
2011-08-13T05:32:46.517
119
question
word-choice grammar
なった versus なってきた
phirru's comment is almost correct: Addition of `くる` in this case means that
it happened gradually. It also means that it might not yet be complete.
However, the one without `くる` does not necessarily mean suddenly. It just does
not mention the process. It may or may not have happened suddenly. `いく` can be
used with similar meaning, but the perspective will be different.

> 眠くなってきた  
>  'I am becoming sleepy.'  
>  'I have (gradually) become sleepy.'
>
> 眠くなった  
>  'I became sleepy.'
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-08-13T05:35:27.423
2627
2011-08-13T05:40:53.963
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
-1
2626
answer