Get = be

[sdpegasus]

In formal English are get and be interchangeable ?

Example-I may be late = I may get late.

 

[virus99]

NOT A TEACHER

Some thoughts from a fellow student.

Get in this case must be a linking verb. I = late. Late must be a predicative adjective, describing the subject and not being the object. The same is always true for "be".

But I would strongly prefer "I may be late". Somehow, "I may get late" seems to be incomplete.

Please correct me, this is rough terrain for me either

 

[emsr2d2]

In formal English are get and be interchangeable ?

Example-I may be late = I may get late.

No. "I may get late" is incorrect.

 

[Rover_KE]

Please correct me, this is rough terrain for me, [STRIKE]either[/STRIKE] too.

Change 'late' to 'delayed' and both versions are fine.

Rover

 

[MikeNewYork]

In formal English are get and be interchangeable ?

Example-I may be late = I may get late.

You need another word or more words after "get" to make that work.

I may get home late.
I may get there late.
I may get to work late.

 

[UM Chakma]

I may get home late.
I may get there late.
I may get to work late.

I understood now the usage of "be and get".

"I may get delayed" is okay. How about "I may be delayed"? Can "be and get" be used interchangeably in this kind of context?

Here are more contexts.

I may be stuck while speaking because of having a week vocabulary.
I may get stuck while speaking because of having a week vocabulary.
You may be ousted if you do not work well in your office.
You may get ousted if you do not work well in your office.

Note that I believe my question is not unrelated.

 

[Rover_KE]

"I may get delayed" is okay. How about "I may be delayed"? Can "be and get" be used interchangeably in this kind of context? Yes. Post #4 said so.

Here are more contexts.

I may be stuck while speaking because of having a weak vocabulary. OK
I may get stuck while speaking because of having a weak vocabulary. Better than the above.
You may be ousted if you do not work well in your office. OK
You may get ousted if you do not work well in your office. OK

Rover

 

[5jj]

I agree with Rover's response, but feel that 'ousted' is an unlikely choice of words in the last two sentences. You are more likely to be fired/sacked/dismissed from, or thrown out of an office job.

 

[Tdol]

In formal English are get and be interchangeable ?

No - get can be used in passives instead of be, mostly informally, but they are different verbs and cannot be used interchangeably most of the time. You can get sick and be sick, but they are not synonymous.

 

[SoothingDave]

I agree with Rover's response, but feel that 'ousted' is an unlikely choice of words in the last two sentences. You are more likely to be fired/sacked/dismissed from, or thrown out of an office job.

Unless there's a mob at your door.