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Using get instead of be in passive constructions.
Practice: build the sentences →The get passive is formed with get followed by a past participle and describes an event or change affecting the subject.
Get passives are generally more common in informal English than be-passives and often emphasize what happens to the subject.
He got injured during the match.
Он получил травму во время матча.
Get passive: get + past participle; emphasizes event affecting subject.
He got injured during the match.
Он получил травму во время матча.
Get passive: get + past participle; emphasizes event affecting subject.
She got promoted last month.
Её повысили в прошлом месяце.
Get passive for a change of state.
She got promoted last month.
Её повысили в прошлом месяце.
Get passive for a change of state.
They got invited to the wedding.
Их пригласили на свадьбу.
Get passive for an event happening to the subject.
They got invited to the wedding.
Их пригласили на свадьбу.
Get passive for an event happening to the subject.
The get passive is formed with an appropriate form of get followed by the past participle.
For example, He got injured, She got promoted, and They got invited to the event.
He got injured.
Он получил травму.
get + past participle.
He got injured.
Он получил травму.
get + past participle.
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
get + past participle.
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
get + past participle.
They got invited to the event.
Их пригласили на мероприятие.
get + past participle.
They got invited to the event.
Их пригласили на мероприятие.
get + past participle.
The Present Simple get passive uses get or gets followed by a past participle.
For example, He gets paid every Friday and She gets invited to many events.
He gets paid every Friday.
Ему платят каждую пятницу.
Present simple get passive: gets + past participle.
He gets paid every Friday.
Ему платят каждую пятницу.
Present simple get passive: gets + past participle.
She gets invited to many events.
Её часто приглашают на многие мероприятия.
Present simple get passive.
She gets invited to many events.
Её часто приглашают на многие мероприятия.
Present simple get passive.
They get paid monthly.
Им платят ежемесячно.
Present simple get passive.
They get paid monthly.
Им платят ежемесячно.
Present simple get passive.
The Past Simple get passive uses got followed by a past participle.
For example, He got injured during the match and They got caught in traffic.
He got injured during the match.
Он получил травму во время матча.
Past simple get passive: got + past participle.
He got injured during the match.
Он получил травму во время матча.
Past simple get passive: got + past participle.
They got caught in traffic.
Они попали в пробку.
Past simple get passive.
They got caught in traffic.
Они попали в пробку.
Past simple get passive.
She got fired last week.
Её уволили на прошлой неделе.
Past simple get passive.
She got fired last week.
Её уволили на прошлой неделе.
Past simple get passive.
Get passive constructions can occur after will and modal verbs when the grammar and meaning are appropriate.
For example, He might get promoted and She will get invited if the plans change.
He might get promoted.
Его, возможно, повысят.
Modal + get + past participle.
He might get promoted.
Его, возможно, повысят.
Modal + get + past participle.
She will get invited if the plans change.
Её пригласят, если планы изменятся.
Will + get + past participle.
She will get invited if the plans change.
Её пригласят, если планы изменятся.
Will + get + past participle.
They could get caught in the rain.
Они могут попасть под дождь.
Could + get + past participle.
They could get caught in the rain.
Они могут попасть под дождь.
Could + get + past participle.
Get passives often emphasize a change of state or the event that causes a new situation.
For example, He got angry is not passive, but He got injured and She got promoted describe changes affecting the subject.
He got injured.
Он получил травму.
Change of state affecting the subject.
He got injured.
Он получил травму.
Change of state affecting the subject.
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
Change of state.
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
Change of state.
He got angry.
Он рассердился.
Not passive: get + adjective, change of state.
He got angry.
Он рассердился.
Not passive: get + adjective, change of state.
Get passives are often used for events that happen to someone, especially when the event is unexpected or undesirable.
For example, He got hurt, We got delayed, and She got caught in the rain.
He got hurt.
Он ушибся.
Unexpected event.
He got hurt.
Он ушибся.
Unexpected event.
We got delayed.
Мы задержались.
Unexpected event.
We got delayed.
Мы задержались.
Unexpected event.
She got caught in the rain.
Она попала под дождь.
Unexpected event.
She got caught in the rain.
Она попала под дождь.
Unexpected event.
The get passive can emphasize the subject's involvement in or experience of an event.
For example, He got arrested presents the arrest as an event that happened to him rather than simply reporting the institutional action.
He got arrested.
Его арестовали.
Emphasizes what happened to him.
He got arrested.
Его арестовали.
Emphasizes what happened to him.
She got robbed.
Её ограбили.
Personal experience.
She got robbed.
Её ограбили.
Personal experience.
They got evicted.
Их выселили.
Event affecting subject.
They got evicted.
Их выселили.
Event affecting subject.
The be-passive is neutral and widely used across registers, while the get-passive is generally more informal and often emphasizes an event or change affecting the subject.
Compare He was injured with He got injured. Both are grammatical, but the second is more conversational in many contexts.
He was injured.
Он был ранен.
Be-passive: neutral, formal.
He was injured.
Он был ранен.
Be-passive: neutral, formal.
He got injured.
Он получил травму.
Get-passive: more informal, eventive.
He got injured.
Он получил травму.
Get-passive: more informal, eventive.
The window was broken.
Окно было разбито.
Be-passive.
The window was broken.
Окно было разбито.
Be-passive.
The window got broken.
Окно разбилось.
Get-passive: emphasizes the event.
The window got broken.
Окно разбилось.
Get-passive: emphasizes the event.
Get passives are especially common in conversation and informal writing.
They frequently occur when speakers describe personal experiences, unexpected events, or changes in circumstances.
I got stuck in traffic.
Я застрял в пробке.
Informal, personal experience.
I got stuck in traffic.
Я застрял в пробке.
Informal, personal experience.
She got invited to the party.
Её пригласили на вечеринку.
Informal.
She got invited to the party.
Её пригласили на вечеринку.
Informal.
He got fired.
Его уволили.
Informal.
He got fired.
Его уволили.
Informal.
The be-passive is generally preferred over the get-passive in formal, academic, scientific, and official writing.
Get passives can still occur in formal contexts when they describe a specific event or have a particular stylistic purpose.
The documents were delivered yesterday.
Документы были доставлены вчера.
Formal: be-passive preferred.
The documents were delivered yesterday.
Документы были доставлены вчера.
Formal: be-passive preferred.
The results were announced.
Результаты были объявлены.
Formal: be-passive.
The results were announced.
Результаты были объявлены.
Formal: be-passive.
The suspect got arrested.
Подозреваемого арестовали.
Get-passive can occur in formal contexts for specific events.
The suspect got arrested.
Подозреваемого арестовали.
Get-passive can occur in formal contexts for specific events.
Certain verbs commonly occur in get-passive constructions.
Frequent examples include get hurt, get injured, get killed, get caught, get arrested, get fired, get promoted, get married, and get invited.
He got hurt.
Он ушибся.
get hurt
He got hurt.
Он ушибся.
get hurt
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
get promoted
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
get promoted
They got married.
Они поженились.
get married
They got married.
Они поженились.
get married
He got fired.
Его уволили.
get fired
He got fired.
Его уволили.
get fired
Get passives can describe beneficial or desirable changes as well as negative events.
For example, She got promoted, He got invited, and They got selected for the team.
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
Positive change.
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
Positive change.
He got invited.
Его пригласили.
Positive event.
He got invited.
Его пригласили.
Positive event.
They got selected for the team.
Их выбрали в команду.
Positive event.
They got selected for the team.
Их выбрали в команду.
Positive event.
Get passives commonly describe unpleasant events or things that happen against someone's wishes.
For example, He got robbed, She got injured, and We got stuck in traffic.
He got robbed.
Его ограбили.
Negative event.
He got robbed.
Его ограбили.
Negative event.
She got injured.
Она получила травму.
Negative event.
She got injured.
Она получила травму.
Negative event.
We got stuck in traffic.
Мы застряли в пробке.
Negative event.
We got stuck in traffic.
Мы застряли в пробке.
Negative event.
The agent is commonly omitted from get-passive constructions when the person responsible is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
For example, He got fired does not identify who dismissed him.
He got fired.
Его уволили.
Agent omitted.
He got fired.
Его уволили.
Agent omitted.
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
Agent omitted.
She got promoted.
Её повысили.
Agent omitted.
They got arrested.
Их арестовали.
Agent omitted.
They got arrested.
Их арестовали.
Agent omitted.
A get passive can occasionally include an agent when identifying who caused the event is useful.
For example, He got injured by another player. This is possible, although the agent is often omitted.
He got injured by another player.
Он получил травму от другого игрока.
Agent included with by.
He got injured by another player.
Он получил травму от другого игрока.
Agent included with by.
She got praised by her teacher.
Её похвалил учитель.
Agent included.
She got praised by her teacher.
Её похвалил учитель.
Agent included.
He got fired by the new manager.
Его уволил новый менеджер.
Agent included.
He got fired by the new manager.
Его уволил новый менеджер.
Agent included.
Some get constructions resemble reflexive or self-caused actions, but their interpretation depends on the verb and context.
For example, He got dressed describes the subject changing his own clothes and is not equivalent to a normal eventive passive such as He got arrested.
He got dressed.
Он оделся.
Reflexive-like: he dressed himself.
He got dressed.
Он оделся.
Reflexive-like: he dressed himself.
He got arrested.
Его арестовали.
Eventive passive: not self-caused.
He got arrested.
Его арестовали.
Eventive passive: not self-caused.
She got washed.
Она помылась.
Could be reflexive or passive depending on context.
She got washed.
Она помылась.
Could be reflexive or passive depending on context.
Some get + past participle combinations can be interpreted as changes into a state rather than straightforward passive events.
For example, get tired means become tired, while get invited describes an event in which someone invites the subject.
He got tired.
Он устал.
Change into a state: become tired.
He got tired.
Он устал.
Change into a state: become tired.
He got invited.
Его пригласили.
Eventive passive: someone invited him.
He got invited.
Его пригласили.
Eventive passive: someone invited him.
She got ready.
Она приготовилась.
Change of state.
She got ready.
Она приготовилась.
Change of state.
Some get-passive constructions occur with multi-word verbs and retain their particles or prepositions.
For example, He got picked up at the airport and She got talked into joining the project.
He got picked up at the airport.
Его встретили в аэропорту.
Phrasal verb get picked up.
He got picked up at the airport.
Его встретили в аэропорту.
Phrasal verb get picked up.
She got talked into joining the project.
Её уговорили присоединиться к проекту.
Phrasal verb get talked into.
She got talked into joining the project.
Её уговорили присоединиться к проекту.
Phrasal verb get talked into.
They got left behind.
Их оставили позади.
Phrasal verb get left behind.
They got left behind.
Их оставили позади.
Phrasal verb get left behind.
Get + past participle can be a passive event, while get + object + past participle expresses a causative construction in which someone arranges for an action to happen.
Compare He got injured in the accident with He got his car repaired at the garage.
He got injured in the accident.
Он пострадал в аварии.
Get passive: event affecting subject.
He got injured in the accident.
Он пострадал в аварии.
Get passive: event affecting subject.
He got his car repaired at the garage.
Ему отремонтировали машину в гараже.
Causative: get + object + past participle.
He got his car repaired at the garage.
Ему отремонтировали машину в гараже.
Causative: get + object + past participle.
She got her hair cut.
Она подстриглась.
Causative get.
She got her hair cut.
Она подстриглась.
Causative get.
The get passive often presents the subject as the person affected by an event or change.
This makes it especially useful for personal experiences and events that happen to people.
He got caught in the rain.
Он попал под дождь.
Subject as experiencer.
He got caught in the rain.
Он попал под дождь.
Subject as experiencer.
She got hurt during the game.
Она получила травму во время игры.
Subject affected by event.
She got hurt during the game.
Она получила травму во время игры.
Subject affected by event.
They got delayed by the storm.
Их задержала буря.
Subject experiences the event.
They got delayed by the storm.
Их задержала буря.
Subject experiences the event.
Get passives can make narratives more dynamic by presenting events as things that happen to characters.
For example, He got caught in the storm and She got separated from her friends.
He got caught in the storm.
Он попал в шторм.
Narrative: event happening to character.
He got caught in the storm.
Он попал в шторм.
Narrative: event happening to character.
She got separated from her friends.
Она потерялась от друзей.
Narrative event.
She got separated from her friends.
Она потерялась от друзей.
Narrative event.
They got lost in the forest.
Они заблудились в лесу.
Narrative event.
They got lost in the forest.
Они заблудились в лесу.
Narrative event.
The frequency and acceptability of get-passives vary according to register and variety of English.
They are particularly common in informal spoken English, while be-passives are more broadly distributed across formal contexts.
I got stuck in traffic.
Я застрял в пробке.
Informal spoken English.
I got stuck in traffic.
Я застрял в пробке.
Informal spoken English.
The documents were delivered.
Документы были доставлены.
Formal written English: be-passive.
The documents were delivered.
Документы были доставлены.
Formal written English: be-passive.
He got promoted.
Его повысили.
Common in both informal and neutral contexts.
He got promoted.
Его повысили.
Common in both informal and neutral contexts.
Choose the get passive when an event, change, or personal experience is foregrounded and use the be passive when a neutral or formal passive construction is more appropriate.
Compare The documents were delivered yesterday with He got caught in the rain on the way home.
The documents were delivered yesterday.
Документы были доставлены вчера.
Be-passive: neutral, formal.
The documents were delivered yesterday.
Документы были доставлены вчера.
Be-passive: neutral, formal.
He got caught in the rain on the way home.
Он попал под дождь по дороге домой.
Get-passive: event, personal experience.
He got caught in the rain on the way home.
Он попал под дождь по дороге домой.
Get-passive: event, personal experience.
She was invited to the conference.
Её пригласили на конференцию.
Be-passive: neutral.
She was invited to the conference.
Её пригласили на конференцию.
Be-passive: neutral.
Use get + past participle for appropriate passive or change-of-state meanings and distinguish it from causative get and ordinary get constructions.
Common mistakes include confusing get passive with get + adjective, using get passive in inappropriate formal contexts, and confusing He got his car repaired with His car got repaired.
He got his car repaired.
Ему отремонтировали машину.
Causative get, not passive.
He got his car repaired.
Ему отремонтировали машину.
Causative get, not passive.
His car got repaired.
Его машину отремонтировали.
Get passive.
His car got repaired.
Его машину отремонтировали.
Get passive.
He got angry.
Он рассердился.
Get + adjective, not passive.
He got angry.
Он рассердился.
Get + adjective, not passive.
The report got written by the team.
Отчёт был написан командой.
Get passive with agent is possible but less common; be-passive preferred in formal contexts.
The report got written by the team.
Отчёт был написан командой.
Get passive with agent is possible but less common; be-passive preferred in formal contexts.