Unit 9 - Lesson 3

PASSIVE VOICE: GET PASSIVE
In spoken English, the verb get sometimes replaces the

verb be in passive sentences. We call this the “get-
passive”.
The use of the get-passive is
considered conversational. But it is sometimes the
better choice, even in written English. It can provide a
clearer meaning. Yet due to its nature is considered
informal.
The main structure of the Get passive is the following.:
S + TO GET (IN ANY TENSE) + PAST PARTICIPLE + C.
Virtually, the sense of the Be passive and the Get
passive is the same. Compare the examples:
BE PASSIVE GET PASSIVE
The vase was broken (by The vase got broken (by
sb). sb).
The team had been The team had gotten
defeated. defeated.
The potholes will be The potholes will get
repaired. repaired.
It is important to mention that the verb “To get” is part

of many English collocations. That is why we use the Get
passive to talk about something either desirable,
unexpected or negative.
What are collocations? A collocation is a group of two
or more words that are almost always put together to
create a specific meaning.
• Get a job • Get home
• Get lost • Get into trouble
• Get permission • Get a raise
As the it is part of many collocations, the verb “To get”
will most likely continue as a collocation when turned
into passive voice.
Now, let’s take a look at the interrogative form:
ACTIVE PASSIVE
Will the potholes be fixed
Will the town hall fix the (by the town hall)?
potholes? Will the potholes get
fixed (bytown hall)?
What happens if the original questions in active voice

was: Did the town hall fix the potholes?
PASSIVE INFINITIVE AND GERUND INFINITIVE
PASSIVE INFINITIVE
The passive infinitive is an infinitive construction in which
the agent (or performer of the action) either appears
in a prepositional phrase following the verb or is not
identified at all. It is particularly common after modal
verbs (may, should, could, etc.) to indicate what is
possible or what is correct.
There are only to possible structures for it:
1. S + TO BE + PAST PARTICIPLE + C.
2. S + TO HAVE BEEN + PAST PARTICIPLE + C.
In passive infinitive the focus is on the receiver of the
action in the infinitive phrase, which is the subject.
Take a look at the following examples:
ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE INFINITIVE
She wants to promote She wants Jon to be
Jon. promoted.
You seem to have You seem to have been
annoyed him. annoyed by him.
We are happy to have We are happy to have
helped the kid thanks to been helped by the
the government. government.
Irene wants to invite Fiorella wants to be
Fiorella to her wedding. invited to the wedding.
What is the difference between the sentences in the
second example?
Note that in some cases the structure changes greatly,
where in others they are just slightly different.
However, the focus between the subject-object always
changes.
Usually, we are going to use this particular structure
with all the verbs that only take an infinitive as their
complement. Some examples are:
• Tend • Seek
• Afford • Offer
• Learn • Bother
PASSIVE GERUND
A passive gerund is the -ing form of a verb that
functions as a noun in a sentence. The main
characteristic that sets a gerund in the passive voice
apart is that it indicates the focus on the receiver of the
action, rather than the doer of the action. By utilizing
the passive voice, we shift the emphasis to the object of
the verb, rather than the subject.
There are only to possible structures for it:
1. S + BEING + PAST PARTICIPLE + C.
2. S + HAVING BEEN + PAST PARTICIPLE + C.
Analyze the following examples:
ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE GERUND
I love calling her She loves being called
“Babu”. “Babu”.
Tom is proud of hiring Jon is proud being hired.
Jon.
He is proud of having The HR manager is proud
confronted HR manager. of having been
confronted by him.
Teaching Mark is Being taught by you is
exhausting. exhausting.
In what kind of context does the last example make

sense?
Usually, we are going to use this particular structure
with all the verbs that only take gerund as their
complement. Some examples are:
• Delay • Quit
• Consider • Recall
• Miss • Understand
REMEMBER THAT SOME VERBS TAKE BOTH GERUNDS
AND INFINITIVES AS AN OBJECT. Notably, the verb
“to get” does. However, there is a change in its
meaning.
INFINITIVE GERUND
• Get + infinitive • Get + gerund is used to
means ‘manage’ or mean ‘start doing
‘have an something’.
opportunity’. o Let’s get going.
o I didn’t get to
see him. • Get + object + gerund
• Get + object + means ‘make somebody
infinitive means / something start doing
‘make somebody / something’.
something do o Don’t get her
something’. There is talking about her
often an idea of problems.
difficulty.
o I couldn’t get him
to sing those
papers.

Unit 9 - Lesson 3

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PASSIVE VOICE: GET PASSIVE

In spoken English, the verb get sometimes replaces the

It is important to mention that the verb “To get” is part

What happens if the original questions in active voice

In what kind of context does the last example make

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