"Get" Passives
Using Get in Passive Sentences
"Get" is often used in place of "be" in passive sentences.
Using "get" instead of a passive verb causes the meaning to change subtly. Infact, for some "get" passives, there are no "be" passive equivalents. Also, in some expressions it is difficult to decide if "get" is followed by a verb (participle) or an adjective. "Get" is used mostly informally.
Passive vs. Get
| BE – PASSIVE | GET – PASSIVE |
|---|---|
The emphasis is on event or process with agent optionally mentioned. |
Other emphases exist with "get". |
I was told to send the check to a Nigerian bank account. (emphasis on the process) |
I got told to send the check to a Nigerian bank account. (emphasis on misfortune) |
The wheels were rotated by the mechanic. (emphasis on what was done to the wheels) |
I got the wheels rotated. (emphasis on getting the job done) |
I was rear-ended by a driver using a cell phone. (emphasis on event and agent) |
I got rear-ended. (emphasis on event - avoids placing blame, naming names) |
I was lost by myself. (nonsense) |
I got lost. (emphasis on misfortune / accident - self-inflicted) |
He was dressed by his mother. (emphasis on action, process and agent) |
He got dressed. (emphasis on the action - done by same person) |
Get
To Suffer Misfortune
Get can be used with a suddenly or unexpected action for which receiver places blame elsewhere.
| AN ACCIDENT | MISFORTUNE |
|---|---|
Blames no one or avoids naming the person at fault. |
Blames fate. It's bad luck! |
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 |
I got hit! (The agent is not mentioned.) (informal) |
I got caught. (The agent is an officer, but in the speaker's mind it is fate.) (informal) |
I got hurt . (informal) |
I got stuck. (informal) |
I got stepped on. (informal) |
I got left out. (informal) |
I got rear-ended. (hit in the rear of my car) (informal) |
I got stopped. (informal) |
Common Mistake
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
| I got caught speeding by the Highway Patrol. |
I got caught speeding. |
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|
In this situation, the meaning of 
Get
To Accomplish
Get can be used with things we do intentionally – good or bad.
| ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH DISCRETION | ACCOMPLISHMENT WITHOUT INDISCRETION |
|---|---|
"I did it!" I achieved my goal with good judgment and bit of luck. |
"I did it." Something which afterwards showed poor judgment. (got + participial adjective) |
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I got selected as the American Idol. (informal) |
I got drunk. (informal) |
I got asked out. (informal) |
I got mixed up. (informal) |
I got chosen! (informal) |
I got fired. (informal) |
I got accepted to Stanford University ! |
I got confused. (informal) |
Get
To Arrangement or Complete
"Get can be used with accomplishments that we do or arrange by ourselves – good luck and good effort.
| ARRANGE | DO / COMPLETE |
|---|---|
We arranged it! |
"I did it myself." |
 |
 |
We got married. |
Mike got dressed for bed. |
I got engaged |
I got dressed. |
We got invited. (pulled strings or favors) |
I got washed. |
I got divorced |
I got bathed. |
|
I got through at 8 p.m. (got through = got finished) |
Got passives normally use no "by phrase". The action is done by the same person.
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
* Jim and Rita got married by their priest. |
Jim and Rita got married. (Omit by-phrase if it doesn't add essential information.) |
* He got dressed by his mother. |
He got dressed. (We assume he did it by himself.) He was dressed by his mother. |
Get
To Take Action on Something
"Get" can also be used for jobs or services that we to take action to complete.
| DO A JOB | HAVE A SERVICE DO A JOB |
|---|---|
I worked at it until it was done. (In these phrases, the participle is more adjective than verb.) |
I had a service take care of it. |
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John got the wood chopped. (He worked until it was done.) |
We got the boxes delivered. (We called a service to do it.) |
Jack got the hedge trimmed. (He worked to completed it.) |
I got the car fixed. (We found a mechanic to do it..) |
I got the wine out ofthe tablecloth. (I worked to remove it.) |
I got my hair cut. (We had a barber do it.) |
She got the kids' clothes washed. (She worked to complete the washing.) |
I got the refrigerator repaired. (I arranged for a repairman to do it.) |
Practice
A San Francisco Experience
Decide whether to use a "be" or "get" in the passive sentence.
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.
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