"got bit by" and "got bitten by"

[konungursvia]

I think it's analogous to get/got/gotten vs get/got/got, the -ten form (called "strong" because it survived) is slowly ebbing out of the language for many verbs, and this has been going on for some time, being replaced by "weak" participles which merely mimic the preterite, unable to stand their ground in their original form.

But I agree it sounds more correct in the older form.

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by konungursvia

I think it's analogous to get/got/gotten vs get/got/got, the -ten form (called "strong" because it survived) is slowly ebbing out of the language for many verbs, and this has been going on for some time, being replaced by "weak" participles which merely mimic the preterite, unable to stand their ground in their original form.

I suppose that you are referring to AmE. I haven't noticed any 'ebbing away' in BrE, in use or in dictionaries.

[konungursvia]

Well, maybe you're not old enough. Many verbs for which the preterite and participle are the same exhibit the weak form, having had an older participle which has already passed out of usage.

I'll try and think of some examples.

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by konungursvia

Well, maybe you're not old enough.

Doesn't bhaisahab, from his avatar, look old enough to have read every dictionary extant?
Sorry, bhai

[konungursvia]

He'd have to have a 25 ft beard to be old enough to remember the verbs I'm talking about. I believe the infinitive in Middle English (Chaucer's time) went like this:

to dronken (>to drink) and the participle was simply the bare infinitive, for most verbs.

Then some got shortened.

[Offroad]

COCA says either 'got bit by' or 'got bitten by' is possible in AmE. BNC says that only 'got bitten by' is possible.

EDIT:
BUT... The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, and The Free Dictionary .com say that only 'bitten' is possible

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by marciobarbalho

COCA says either 'got bit by' or 'got bitten by' is possible in AmE. BNC says that only 'got bitten by' is possible.

EDIT:
BUT... The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, and The Free Dictionary .com say that only 'bitten' is possible

The Free Dictionary that I read says 'bit' is right too:
bite - definition of bite by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

I don't know about the other one, but it's very unlikely they'd go out of their way to say that only 'bitten' is possible. Do you mean that 'bit' is not listed as a past participle?

[Offroad]

hmm... my bad. Sorry.

So, sounds like both are possible in AmE and only 'bitten' in BrE.

Do you agree?

[opa6x57]

I AM NOT A TEACHER...

I recall my English teacher saying, "If the dictionary uses the word also, then that usage is NOT standard. If, however, the dictionary uses the word or, then either would be acceptable in standard usage."


bite/bit/bitten also bit (indicates that bit is not standard)
vs.
bite/bit/bitten or bit (indicates that either bit or bitten is acceptable in standard usage)