Passive Voice

Grammar-Quizzes
"Get" Expressions Framed | Unframed 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Get - "It's Not My Fault!"

"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.
golpher hit by golf ball police chasing Porsche on highway computer-headed man lost in maze
"It's not my fault!"       (accident) "I couldn't avoid it!"     (indiscretion) "It's bad luck."     (fate)

 

These are other commonly used "get" expressions

got hurt got drunk got stuck
got hit got "laid" got left out
got rear-ended (in a car) got fired got lost

 

Common Mistake

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 - "I did it myself"

"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.
groom carrying bride man brushing teeth man sleeping at desk
"We arranged it!" "I did it myself." "I did it."

 

Other Similar Expressions

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

 

Common Mistakes

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 - "taking action to get a result"

"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.
barber pollscissors man repairing car man delivering boxes
"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.)

wood chopper
Mom got the clothes clean.

(She washed them until they were clean.)

clothing

I got the clothes *drycleaned .

(I took them to the drycleaners.)

Jack got the hedge trimmed .

(He trimmed it.)

man trimming hedge

*The participial adjective often indicates a service was done.

 

 

Practice

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

 

# YOUR RESPONSE ANSWER

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2.

  I returned to my hotel.

dial tone = disconnected sound (buzz)

 

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9.

 get through = get past (by) ; a phrasal verb
 

 

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11.

A beautiful young woman was walking by me with a glass of wine in her hand.

 

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