Past Tense of “get”
The past simple of “get” is “got” and the past participle is “got / gotten”. Below are the pronunciation, three example sentences, the mistake learners make most often, and a short drill to check yourself.
Forms of “get”
get – got – got / gotten
receive, obtain; become
- Base form
- get/ɡet/
- Past simple
- got/ɡɑːt/
- Past participle
- got / gotten/ɡɑːt, ˈɡɑːtn/
- -ing form
- getting
- He / she / it
- gets
Pronunciation (US)
American English uses “gotten” for most meanings (“It has gotten colder”); British English uses “got”.
Quick practice
5 questions. Type the missing form.
Example sentences
Three everyday sentences that show how the forms are used.
Past simple
I got an email from my manager this morning.
Past participle
It has gotten much colder this week.
Past simple
We got home after midnight.
The most common mistake
Wrong
I getted a new job.
Correct
I got a new job.
“Get” is irregular: get – got – got (gotten in American English). There is no form “getted”.
Verbs with the same pattern
Past = participle. Learn these together.