1.   Even in such a brief survey of this notion of contradiction two things become clear.

2.   If one is well grounded in youth, the object of love and sound toilet training, these things become second nature.

3.   Things became even more difficult when one of his principal backers went bankrupt.

4.   Things became very awkward between us afterwards and, as a result, I had to quit my job.

5.   This whole capital punishment thing is becoming a real pain in the neck for a civilized society.

6.   This whole sorry episode shows just how bad things have become.

7.   We talked about how ridiculous things had become.

8.   That is a measure of how bad things have become at the bank.

9.   Seeing me, he relaxes and says I scared him because of the way things have become in this neighborhood.