English grammar
Get + past participle (accidents — nobody's really to blame)
Talk about accidents with get + past participle.
From the scene I forgot
In short
For accidents, use get + past participle: the coffee got spilled. Add by + person to say who.
Your turn
Which one goes with get + past participle: it just happened?
Options: I forgot my wallet · the microphone got broken · the coffee got spilled
Show answer
get + past participle: it just happened → the coffee got spilled
How it works
For accidents, English often uses get + past participle: the coffee got spilled, the microphone got broken.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Nuria... I (blank) my wallet at the bar.
Options: leaving · left · leave
Show answer
Nuria... I left my wallet at the bar.
Nuria... se me olvidó la billetera en el bar.
Good to know
It sounds as if it just happened, with nobody really to blame. Add by + person if you need to say who: it got dropped by Doña Elena.
your own mistake: normal verb I forgot my wallet
get + past participle: it just happened the coffee got spilled
Javi
Oh! The coffee got spilled.
¡Ay! Se me cayó el café.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oh! (blank).
Options: I forgot my wallet · The microphone got broken · The coffee got spilled
Show answer
Javi
Oh! The coffee got spilled.
¡Ay! Se me cayó el café.
get + past participle: nobody's really to blame the microphone got broken
Javi
Thanks. And last night... the microphone got broken.
Gracias. Y anoche... se nos rompió el micrófono.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Thanks. And last night... (blank).
Options: the coffee got spilled · the microphone got broken · I forgot my wallet
Show answer
Javi
Thanks. And last night... the microphone got broken.
Gracias. Y anoche... se nos rompió el micrófono.
who it happened to, with "by" it got dropped by Doña Elena
Javi
It got dropped by Doña Elena, actually.
Se le cayó a Doña Elena, en realidad.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), actually.
Options: The coffee got spilled · It got dropped by Doña Elena · I forgot my wallet
Show answer
Javi
It got dropped by Doña Elena, actually.
Se le cayó a Doña Elena, en realidad.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| your own mistake: normal verb | I forgot my wallet |
|---|---|
| get + past participle: it just happened | the coffee got spilled |
| get + past participle: nobody's really to blame | the microphone got broken |
| who it happened to, with "by" | it got dropped by Doña Elena |
More lines from the story
- JaviNuria... I left my wallet at the bar.Nuria... se me olvidó la billetera en el bar.
- JaviBecause I forgot the most important thing: the groom!Porque se me olvidó lo más importante: ¡el novio!
- NuriaAgain? It's the third time this week.¿Otra vez? Es la tercera vez esta semana.