Passive Voice - "Get" Passive Forms

Passive Voice
"Get" Expressions	Framed \| Unframed

Sometimes "get" is used in place of the "be" verb. The meaning changes subtly.

"Get" passives often mean the action occurred suddenly or unexpectedly and the "actor" places blame elsewhere.

I got hit!	I got caught.	I got lost.

"It's not my fault!" (accident)	"I couldn't avoid it!" (indiscretion)	"It's bad luck." (fate)

These are other commonly used "get" expressions

ERROR	FIX
* I got caught speeding by the Highway Patrol.	I got caught speeding. Usually no "by phrase" is used. (The agent is not mentioned.) I got hit by a truck ('by phrase' ok)

"Get" passives also can mean "things we do ourselves." "Got" passives are things we arrange to do; no "by phrase" is used.

We got married.	Mike got dressed for bed.	I got to sleep late.

"We arranged it!"	"I did it myself."	"I did it."

got engaged	got dressed	got prepared
got divorced	got washed	got invited

ERROR

FIX

* Jim and Rita got married by their priest.

Jim and Rita got married. (Usually, no "by phrase" is used. The agent is not mentioned.)
Jim and Rita were married by their priest. (ok)

* He got dressed by his mother. (was dressed )

He got dressed. (by himself)
"Get" passives are things we do ouselves; the "agent" and "receiver" is the same.

He was dressed by his mother.

"Get" passives also can mean "taking action" (or using a service).

I got my hair cut.	I got the car fixed.	We got the boxes delivered.

"My barber did it."	"The mechanic did it."	"A delivery service did it."
Result: It is cut now.	Result: It is fixed now.	Result: They are at the destination now.

Agent	"Got Phrase"	Result (adjective or participial)
John	got the wood	chopped. (Done by self or by service.)
Mom	got the clothes	clean. (She washed them until they were clean.)
I	got the clothes	*drycleaned . (I took them to the drycleaners.)
Jack	got the hedge	trimmed . (He trimmed it.)

*The participial adjective often indicates a service was done.

Practice

Decide whether to used the passive "be" or "got" form.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWER
1	I was going to meet my friend in downtown San Francisco. I don't know how it happened, but I .
2.	I called him on my cell phone and was getting directions, when suddenly the connection and then I just heard the dial tone. I returned to my hotel. dial tone = disconnected sound (buzz)
3.	Later that night, I received a call from my friend. I to go to a party at the Greek Embassy where he worked.
4.	I told him I couldn't go because I by my boss to give a presentation early in the morning and I had a lot of work to do.
5.	He assured me that we wouldn't be out too late, so I quickly and left the hotel.
6.	Fortunately, I a map before I left the hotel.
7.	As I was leaving the hotel, I almost by a taxi.
8.	At the embassy, I had to go through a metal detector. I because I had keys in my pocket.
9.	After I security, I went in and joined the party. get through = get past (by) ; a phrasal verb
10.	It was a grand party. I introduced to a lot of very interesting, and talented people.
11.	A beautiful young woman was walking by me with a glass of wine in her hand. Suddenly, she tripped on the edge of the carpet and I with the red wine in her glass.
12.	The woman and apologized. I assured her it wasn't her fault.
13.	I in the restroom and was able to wash off some of the wine and cover up the rest with my jacket.
14.	Later, that night I next to the same woman. We talked for a long time and had a great time.
15.	Six months later, we .

Julie Sevastopoulos - ESL Department - College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA 94402 USA