Getpassive

We form the standard passive withbe+-edform. We form thegetpassive withget+-edform:

The trees in the gardenweredamaged in the wind.(standard passive)

The trees in the gardengotdamaged in the wind.(getpassive)

We use thegetpassive especially in informal speaking. When we use thegetpassive, we also place a little more emphasis on the nature of the action itself or on the person involved in the action:

There were blizzards over night and the whole towngotsnowed in.(‘Get snowed in’ here means to be unable to leave the town because of heavy falls of snow.)

I’ve got good news for you. Jim finallygotpromoted.

They had only known each other for six months when theygotmarried in Las Vegas.

Thegetpassive is commonly used in speaking of events that are negative or not desired:

They’ve worked there for three years but they stillgotsacked(lost their jobs).

He feels his paintingsarealwaysgettingcriticised.

Our cargotstolen last night.

We sometimes use a reflexive pronoun with thegetpassive. This suggests the subject was at least partly responsible for the event or made it happen:

Igot myselflocked out the other day. I stupidly left my keys in the bedroom.(orIgotlocked out…)