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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

get + past participle

Hi, all
I'd like to ask you about using get + past participle in the sentences like that:

When are we going to get paid?
Pull over or you are going to get stoped in a different way. (I just made them up, so I may be wrong, but I think you get the point).

It looks to me that we have to use the passive voice here. So, the point I'd like to clarify is if this is correct to use the get + past participle construction instead of the passive construction in such sentences.
Can I use these to express the same idea?

When are we going to be paid?
Pull over or you are going to be stoped in a different way.

And is it OK if i use get + past participle in a formal writing?

Thanks in advance,
ND
  

Top answer

Anonymous Hi, all I'd like to ask you about using get + past participle in the sentences like that: When are we going to get paid? Pull over or you are going to get stoped in a different way. (I just made them up, so I may be wrong, but I think you get the point).

— Goodman

  • Anonymous Hi, all I'd like to ask you about using get + past participle in the sentences like that: When are we going to get paid?
  • Pull over or you are going to get stoped in a different way.
  • (I just made them up, so I may be wrong, but I think you get the point).
  • It looks to me that we have to use the passive voice here.
  • So, the point I'd like to clarify is if this is correct to use the get + past participle construction instead of the passive construction in such sentences.
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12 Answers
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AnonymousHi, all
I'd like to ask you about using get + past participle in the sentences like that:

When are we going to get paid?
Pull over or you are going to get stoped in a different way. (I just made them up, so I may be wrong, but I think you get the point).

It looks to me that we have to use the passive voice here. So, the poi
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Hi,
I think it is idiomatic, so it is difficult to find a general rule.
Yes, sometimes you can use "get" instead of the verb "to be", but I don't think I can say you can "always" do so.
My feeling is that "get" implies an achievement of some kind, you reach a state, level, goal, etc. And when it is used in a passive construction, it feels like something has affected you, often in a b
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The plumber gets paid $60 an hour for just coming out to look at a clogged drain.

I'll get paid tomorrow.

Both are perfectly fine.
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I would describe this sort of passive (formed with 'get') as being a lower register (more informal) than the passive formed with 'be'.

So, in very formal writing you should avoid the "get passive".
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Agreed, most of the time and with exceptions....

How about the guests are getting acquainted among themselves?

Mary is getting adressed for the evening at the ball?
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I agree. There are certain idiomatic expressions in which 'get' is very typical. However, "Mary is dressing" would still be a higher register (more formal) than "Mary is getting dressed."

'Get' is also used to mean 'become' in expressions such as 'get tired'. However, it should be noted that 'become tired' would be considered much more formal than 'get tired'.
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Thank you all for your explanations and thoughts regarding the question.
So if I have it right, there is no any general rule when to use get + past participle construction and it's completely left at the discretion of the individual when to use it. But, is that construction from the same register as - I ain't no money on me - for example.

ND
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I would say that the register of those get constructions is only very slightly lower than the register with the true passive with be. The register is certainly not that of ain't.

Also, note that it is not left to the discretion of the speaker or writer. It is a matter of imitating usage, and unfortunately it is difficult to differentiate between those cases whi
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CalifJim, I don't know what to say. Thank you for such a detailed explanation.

ND
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AnonymousThank you all for your explanations and thoughts regarding the question.
So if I have it right, there is no any general rule when to use get + past participle construction and it's completely left at the discretion of the individual when to use it. But, is that construction from the same register as - I ain't no money on me - for example

ND
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