Dave,
I was the one suggesting that the construction may be a "get" passive.
Like a garden variety passive, the actor in the sentence is either hidden or could be in a "by-phrase." "He got run over (by a truck.)"
When the object of the "by-phrase" becomes the subject of the converted sentence, like the "to be" form in the garden variety passive, the converted sentence drops the auxiliary: Joe was run over by a truck" becomes "The truck ran over Joe." And "He got run over by a truck" becomes "The truck ran over him." Notice also that in both cases of the conversion of both types of passives, the verb then is marked for tense (obviously, it has to be).
I'm not suggesting any generalizations beyond these, but, as I understand it, the "get passive" does bear some credence in some grammarians' minds.
In other situations, I can understand why "get" can act like an auxiliary.
Marshall
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Kehe
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 1:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: he was run over/he got run over
Scott,
I agree with Janet calling "got" a helping verb. I tell my students that passive voice consists of an auxiliary verb and past participle. I'd be interested to know why you and Patty would consider "got" a model.
Dave
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Patricia Lafayllve
Sent: Fri 2/20/2009 8:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: he was run over/he got run over
Scott-
I can see the "logic" of calling it a passive with "got" as the modal, but I'd probably let the student know that the construction was "informal" and make sure they know how to construct a passive using "formal" methods (ie "was run over"). Does that make sense? I am posting while jet-lagged, here...
-patty
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Scott Woods
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 10:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: he was run over/he got run over
List,
My previous message on this topic delivered itself before I had finished it. Here is the complete message.
Recently, a student wrote "he got run over." This seems to be a common way of expressing the passive.
Would you characterize this as a passive? Would you analyze "run" as the verb of the sentence and "got" as a modal operating like "was" in a normally constructed (was run over) passive?
Scott Woods
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