Get-Passives and Other Variations: correct answers
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While the standard passive voice uses the verb to be, English speakers frequently use get to emphasize a dynamic action or a change in state (e.g., The thief got caught). However, get cannot be used with stative verbs; we must say The theory was understood, never got understood. We also use related causative structures to describe arranging a task (I got him to help vs. I had him help) or experiencing an unexpected misfortune (I had my car stolen).
Inside this challenge, you will help a spy report an embarrassing capture, a cursed explorer describe jungle misfortunes, and an HR manager document a bizarre office incident. Along the way, you'll master the stative restriction on get-passives, causative verbs for delegation, adversative passives for bad luck, and unique variations like need + V-ing.
You'll work through 10 questions in a challenging mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
The correct answers are:
- got caught
- create
- to start
- dry-cleaned
got caught: We often use the "get-passive" (get + past participle) for accidental, unexpected, or negative events.
create: The causative structure have someone do something uses the base form of the verb (bare infinitive) to show we assigned a task to someone.
to start: The causative structure get someone to do something uses the full infinitive (to + verb) to mean we persuaded or arranged for someone to do a task.
dry-cleaned: The causative structure get something done uses the past participle to show an action performed on an object by someone else.
Question 2
Complete the HR manager's incident report by choosing the most appropriate verb form for each gap.
During the morning shift, Mr. Henderson somehow managed to get his lucky silk tie caught in the heavy-duty document shredder. Rather than following protocol and calling the maintenance team, he tried to have his desk mate take the jammed machine apart with a paperclip. As a direct result of this ill-advised repair attempt, the shredder caught fire and the entire accounting department got evacuated for the remainder of the afternoon.
...managed to get his lucky silk tie caught in the heavy-duty document shredder.
The structure get + object + past participle is often used to describe accidental, unfortunate, or unexpected events happening to one's possessions or body parts.
...he tried to have his desk mate take the jammed machine apart...
The active causative with "have" follows the pattern have + person + bare infinitive (meaning to assign a task or give a responsibility to someone). Notice that unlike "get," it does not use "to."
...the entire accounting department got evacuated for the remainder of the afternoon.
The get-passive (get + past participle) is used here to emphasize a dynamic, unexpected, and adverse event that happened to the department, rather than a planned state.
Question 3
The correct answers are "I refuse to get drawn into your web of lies anymore!", "Our secret plans are getting completely ruined as we speak!", and "By the time I arrived, the vault had already gotten emptied."
Get-passives are formed with get + past participle (e.g., drawn, ruined, emptied). They are highly dynamic and emphasize an action or a change of state.
"Got seemed" is incorrect because stative verbs (verbs describing states of being, like seem, know, or belong) generally cannot be used in get-passives.
"Got steal" is incorrect because it uses the base verb form instead of the required past participle (stolen).
Question 4
Help the stressed-out wedding planner complete her frantic text messages to her assistant by choosing the correct verb form for each gap.
I finally managed to get the stubborn caterer to change the menu, but it took an hour of arguing! Now, we need to have the backup floral arrangements delivered to the reception hall by noon, or the bride will absolutely panic. Also, please check on the best man. If he keeps arguing with the DJ, he's going to get himself kicked out of the venue before the ceremony even starts!
I finally managed to get the stubborn caterer to change the menu...
The active causative with "get" follows the pattern get + object + to-infinitive (meaning to persuade or convince someone to do something).
...we need to have the backup floral arrangements delivered to the reception hall...
The causative passive with "have" follows the pattern have + object + past participle (meaning to arrange for a service to be done to an object).
...he's going to get himself kicked out of the venue...
The reflexive get-passive uses get + oneself + past participle to describe a situation where a person's own actions cause something (usually negative) to happen to them.
Question 5
The correct answers are:
- polishing
- get lost
- illuminated
- to dress up
polishing: The verb need followed by a gerund (-ing form) has a passive meaning (The statues need polishing = The statues need to be polished).
get lost: This is a common get-passive/reflexive expression used for an adverse change of state or an accident.
illuminated: The causative have something done uses the past participle to indicate arranging for a service to be performed on an object.
to dress up: The active causative get someone to do something requires the full infinitive (to + verb), unlike have someone do something which uses the base verb.
Question 6
Help the science historian finish her dramatic documentary script by selecting the grammatically correct option.
"For decades, the professor's groundbreaking theory on quantum mechanics _____ by the mainstream scientific community."
The correct answer is was simply not understood.
A crucial rule of the "get-passive" is that it cannot be used with stative verbs (verbs that describe states rather than actions, such as understand, know, believe, or own).
Because "understand" is a stative verb, we must use the standard "be-passive" (was not understood).
Question 7
The correct answers are I finally got the new intern to compile the quarterly reports., I had the new intern compile the quarterly reports., and I got the quarterly reports compiled by the new intern.
When using active causatives (focusing on who is doing the action), have takes the bare infinitive (have someone do something), whereas get takes the full infinitive (get someone to do something).
When using passive causatives (focusing on the action being completed), both verbs use the past participle (have/get something done).
Therefore, "had the new intern to compile" and "got the new intern compile" are grammatically incorrect mixtures of these rules!
Question 8
Choose the correct phrase to complete the spy's highly embarrassing mission report.
"I thought my disguise was absolutely foolproof, but I _____ by the enemy guards before I even reached the courtyard."
The correct answer is ended up getting recognized.
The "get-passive" is frequently used to emphasize an accidental, unexpected, or negative change of state. After the phrasal verb "end up," we must use the gerund form ("getting").
"Ended up to be recognized" uses the wrong verb pattern, and "got ended up recognizing" mixes active and passive voices incorrectly.
Question 9
The correct answers are I had my favorite compass swallowed by a crocodile., I got my tent blown away during the monsoon., and I got myself trapped in a suspiciously obvious snare.
The structures have something done and get something done are often used as "experiencer passives" to describe adverse events outside the subject's control (e.g., had my compass swallowed, got my tent blown away).
You can also use a reflexive pronoun with a get-passive (get oneself done) to imply that the subject was partially responsible for their own misfortune (e.g., got myself trapped).
"Was gotten chased" is ungrammatical (double passive/auxiliary confusion), and "had my provisions to be raided" incorrectly uses an infinitive instead of a past participle.
Question 10
Choose the correct phrase to complete the teenager's dramatic excuse for being late.
"I would have been here on time, I swear! But while I was walking through the park, I _____ by a ridiculously aggressive squirrel!"
The correct answer is had my sandwich stolen.
This is an example of the adversative causative (or experiencer passive). When you experience a negative event caused by someone (or something) else, you use the structure: Subject + have/get + Object + Past Participle.
"Got stolen my sandwich" and "was stolen my sandwich" use incorrect word order. "Had stolen my sandwich" is the past perfect active voice, which would hilariously mean the teenager stole their own sandwich!