Passive: Jack and Jill were married (by the preacher).
Jack married Jill. (S V O) (Okay)
| Be Married To
Jack was married to Jill. Jill was married to Jack. Jack is married. Jack is married to Jill. Jack was married. |
Two meanings:
(by the preacher) (but not anymore) Status (current status) (fact) (but he isn’t anymore) |
Jack has been married for five months.
Jack and Jill have been married for five months.
How long have Jack and Jill been married?
Incorrect:
X Jack married to Jill.
X Jack married with Jill.
X Jack was married with Jill.
Jack and Jill will get married next week.
Jack and Jill will be married next week (by the preacher).
Jack got married on April 1.
Jack got married (to Jill) on April 1. (not common)
Jack and Jill got married on April 1. (better)
Incorrect:
X Jack and Jill have gotten married since October.
X How long have Jack and Jill gotten married?
Get engaged
Be engaged
Be engaged to
Jill got engaged (to Jack) last week. (not common)
Jack and Jill got engaged last week.
Jack and Jill are engaged now.
Jack and Jill have been engaged for one week.
Incorrect:
X Jack engaged Jill.
X Jack got engaged with Jill.
X They have gotten engaged for one week.
X How long have they gotten engaged?
A divorced B
Get divorced
Be divorced
Be divorced from
Jack divorced Jill. (or vice versa)
Jack and Jill got divorced last month.
Jack and Jill are divorced now.
Jack is divorced
Jill is divorced.
When did they get divorced?
How long have they been divorced?
They have been divorced for a month.
Jack is divorced from Jill. (not common)
Incorrect:
X Jill got divorced with Jack.
X Jack has gotten divorced for one month.
X How long have Jack and Jill gotten divorced?
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