Passive with “get”

In speech you can use get + V3 instead of be + V3. Get is an ordinary verb, so it changes like any other verb: get / gets / got, and negatives and questions need do / does / did.

💡Don't use be and get together: “I was got hurt” is wrong. Choose one: I got hurt or I was hurt.

1. Something happens to someone or something, often suddenly or unpleasantly

• My phone got damaged in the rain.

• Be careful with that knife, or you'll get hurt.

• Our neighbours got robbed last weekend.

2. A change or result that comes to someone — good things too

• Lan got promoted last month.

• Do you get paid every month or every week?

• I got invited to Mai's party tonight.

3. Informal, spoken English — in formal writing, notices and reports use be + V3

• My wallet got stolen at the market.

  spoken, telling a friend

• Several items were stolen from the building.

  a news report — formal

💡Get + V3 is not only for bad news: get fired and get fined are unpleasant, but get paid, get promoted and get invited are good things.

• Get is only for actions and changes — not for states: This house is owned by my aunt (not: gets owned).
• Get often suggests something unexpected, or something the subject partly caused: He got caught cheating in the exam.
• For formal, factual or official information, be sounds more natural: The museum was built in the 19th century.

• If you park here, you'll get fined.

• Visitors who park here will be fined.

  a sign — formal

• Two people got injured in the crash.

• get + adjective = become: get tired, get angry, get cold, get better. Some V3 forms work like adjectives in set phrases: get married, get dressed, get lost, get bored, get worried, get changed.
• get + thing + V3 = someone else does it for you: I got my car washed — see the lesson “Have something done”.

• They got married in Da Nang last year.

• I got lost on my way to the hotel.

• I got cut on some broken glass. / I got my hair cut.

  get + V3 vs get + thing + V3

• ✗He got fire because he was always late.

  ✓He got fired because he was always late.

  Use the V3 after get.

• ✗I was got hurt while I was playing football.

  ✓I got hurt while I was playing football.

  Don't use be and get together.

• ✗Our neighbours got robbing last weekend.

  ✓Our neighbours got robbed last weekend.

  The passive uses the V3, not -ing.

• ✗Did you got paid yesterday?

  ✓Did you get paid yesterday?

  After did, use the base form get.

• ✗I wasn't get invited.

  ✓I didn't get invited. / I wasn't invited.

  Get is an ordinary verb, so the negative uses didn't.

• ✗This house gets owned by my aunt.

  ✓This house is owned by my aunt.

  Own is a state, not an action — use be, not get.