0
Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Get dead!
Why can't we say "get dead"? We can say "get ill", but not "get dead". Both ill and dead are adjectives and states so why can't we say "get dead"? I'm asking for the rule that controls this, not the correct way to say it.
Top answer
I don't know about any rule, but you can get ill, then you can get well, then you can get ill again. When you're dead - that's it. So I wouldn't worry too much about it.
- I don't know about any rule, but you can get ill, then you can get well, then you can get ill again.
- When you're dead - that's it.
- So I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
12 Answers
0
I don't know about any rule, but you can get ill, then you can get well, then you can get ill again.
When you're dead - that's it. So I wouldn't worry too much about it.
When you're dead - that's it. So I wouldn't worry too much about it.
00
Because there's already a verb in the language that means "get dead". It's "die".
He died. not He got dead.
'get + adjective' is used to circumvent the fact that we don't have a verb form that corresponds to each adjective in English. Sometimes we do have a verb, but it's not a common one, so we prefer the 'get + adjective' construction to the less used ver
He died. not He got dead.
'get + adjective' is used to circumvent the fact that we don't have a verb form that corresponds to each adjective in English. Sometimes we do have a verb, but it's not a common one, so we prefer the 'get + adjective' construction to the less used ver
00
CalifJimBecause there's already a verb in the language that means "get dead". It's "die".I'm not certain but I believe that's coincidental. "Get" in this construction is synonomous with "become". "Become" suggests a transition. Dead describes an absolute state; there is no transition.
00
CalifJimHe died. not He got dead.OK, so why can't we say "he got died" if we can say "he got killed"?
00
Anonymouswhy can't we say "he got died"Because "get + past participle" is a passive voice construction, hence only possible with a transitive verb, which "die" is not.
00
Hi guys,
I agree with Huevos about the suggestion of a transition.
'He got sick' or 'he got tired' sound like there is a period of time involved.
Not so, with 'dead'. It's more abrupt.
However, I don't think it's totally clear-cut. You could debate various specific cases.
eg She got pregnant.
There's not really a period of transition here.
However, I thin
I agree with Huevos about the suggestion of a transition.
'He got sick' or 'he got tired' sound like there is a period of time involved.
Not so, with 'dead'. It's more abrupt.
However, I don't think it's totally clear-cut. You could debate various specific cases.
eg She got pregnant.
There's not really a period of transition here.
However, I thin
00
So get killed is slow so it's OK, and get dead is too abrupt to be grammatical.
Now I've heard everything!!!
Now I've heard everything!!!
00
CalifJimSo get killed is slow so it's OK, and get dead is too abrupt to be grammatical.They are two completely different constructions. One, "get + adjective", is used to signify becoming or to causing oneself to become as specified; to reach a certain condition or state. In the other, "
Now I've heard everything!!! Smile
CJ
00
Hi,
Consider these examples.
You can say 'He got killed by Tom'
You can't say 'He got dead by Tom'.
They are different forms.
Best wishes, Clive
Consider these examples.
You can say 'He got killed by Tom'
You can't say 'He got dead by Tom'.
They are different forms.
Best wishes, Clive
00
CliveThey are different forms.Exactly. And the reason you cannot say "got dead/died by Tom" is because the verb "to die" is intransitive, i.e. it takes no object.
0
Related Questions