2Pac Fridays: To Live and Die in L.A.

“To Live and Die in L.A.” is Tupac’s homage to his hometown of Los Angeles, California. It is the second single from 2Pac’s final album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. The album was completely finished in only a week during the month of August 1996. Amazingly, the lyrics were written and recorded in only three days and mixing took an additional four days. These are among the very last songs Shakur recorded before his fatal shooting on September 7, 1996, and it was released after his death (adapted from Wikipedia).

In this edition of 2Pac Friday, you will learn how to use the verb get in the passive voice.

To Live and Die in L.A., it’s the place to be.
You’ve got to be there to know it. Everybody want to see.

Grammar: ‘Be’ in the Passive Voice

To make the passive voice, we usually use a form of the verb be and the past participle.

Subject + be + past participle

Subject + be + not + past participle

Be + subject + past participle? 

• I am paid on the first day of every month. I am not paid on the 15th. Are you paid on the 1st?
• I was paid last week. I wasn’t paid yesterday. Were you paid last week?
  
• I will be paid next month. I won’t be paid tomorrow. Will you be paid tomorrow?
  
• I am going to be paid next month. I am not going to be paid in four days. Are you going to be paid in four days?
• I am being paid in cash right now. I am not being paid by direct deposit. Are you being paid in cash now?
• I have been paid. I haven’t been paid yet. Have you been paid yet?
• I had been paid. I had not been paid. Had you been paid at that point?

Grammar: ‘Get’ in the Passive Voice

Nigga got smoked by a fiend trying to floss on him.
Big Rock got knocked, but this one’s for you.

You may substitute the be verb with the verb get in the passive voice.

Subject + get/got/gotten + past participle.

Subject + negative auxiliary + past participle. 

Question auxiliary + subject + past participle. 

• I get paid on the first day of every month. I don’t get paid on the 15th. Do you get paid on the 1st?
• I got paid last week. I didn’t get paid yesterday. Did you get paid last week?
  
• I will get paid next month. I won’t get paid tomorrow. Will you geet paid tomorrow?
  
• I am going to get paid next month. I am not going to get paid in four days. Are you going to get paid in four days?
• I am getting paid in cash right now. I am not getting paid by direct deposit. Are you getting paid in cash now
• I have gotten paid. I haven’t gotten paid yet. Have you gotten paid yet?
• I had gotten paid. I had not gotten paid. Had you gotten paid at that point?

These forms with get are not possible with be.

• I will be getting paid tomorrow at noon. I will not be getting paid at noon. When will you be getting paid?
• I had been getting paid by him. I had not been getting paid by her. Had you been getting paid by him, too?
• I have been getting paid for several months. I have not been getting paid for years. How long have you been getting paid?

Discussion Questions

Where are you from? Are you proud of your country and hometown? What is it famous and known for? If I visit your country, what should I do and see? Countries and cities can be known for many positives things, but it can also be known for negative things. Does your country or city have positive and negative qualities? Please write your comments below!