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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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got shrunk

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

'got shrunk' is not correct to use in written English.
To make this sentence correct, you would need to use the correct verb tense, which is 'shrank.' For example, you could say, "The shirt I bought last week shrank in the dryer."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Has it got shrunk?" "No, it was always like this".

News & Media

The New Yorker

From the age of seven, Napravnik spent her weekends riding on the mid-Atlantic pony racing circuit – horseracing that got shrunk in the wash.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

After the show ended, van Herpen climbed into a bag and got shrink-wrapped, too.

News & Media

The New Yorker

So guess what gets shrunk?

News & Media

The New York Times

As for Paul, you can't help feeling that, ground down as he was, he didn't need to get shrunk in the first place.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Who's ready to learn all about the human body's circulatory system by getting shrunk down and venturing inside one of your classmates?

News & Media

The New Yorker

This doesn't happen with developer packages, where the construction processes and materials dictate design and things get shrunk to make them fit on a site".

News & Media

The Guardian

And you'll need to get "shrunk," as industrial psychologist Stephen Laser calls it.

News & Media

Forbes

In RIM, the topology gets shrunk inward which leads to significant loss of coverage at network periphery.

If you'll be entitled to receive a traditional pension, that benefit could get shrunk as a result of going part-time, and thus taking a pay cut, during your final years of employment.

News & Media

Forbes

"I loved getting shrunk in the Might Microscope when I was a kid," said Robert Niles, author of the Theme Park Insider website.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct tense of "shrink": "shrank" for past simple, "has shrunk" for present perfect. Using the correct tense ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

Common error

Don't use "got shrunk" as it's grammatically incorrect. Use "shrank" instead. This avoids a common mistake in verb conjugation and improves the correctness of your sentences.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

84%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got shrunk" functions as a passive construction attempting to describe something that has become smaller. However, it's grammatically incorrect; the correct past tense of 'shrink' is 'shrank'. Ludwig AI confirms that this is not considered correct English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "got shrunk" is understandable, it's grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. The correct past tense form is "shrank". As Ludwig AI points out, using "shrank" ensures grammatical accuracy and strengthens the clarity of your writing. Though examples exist in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, it's essential to use the proper tense to maintain credibility, especially in professional or academic contexts. Consider using alternatives like "has shrunk" or "became smaller" for better grammatical precision.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "shrink" in the past tense?

The correct past tense of "shrink" is "shrank". "Got shrunk" is grammatically incorrect. For example, "The sweater shrank in the wash" is correct.

What can I say instead of "got shrunk"?

You can use alternatives like "shrank", "has shrunk", or "became smaller" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "got shrunk" or "shrank"?

"Shrank" is the correct past tense form of the verb "shrink". "Got shrunk" is not grammatically correct.

How can I avoid mistakes when using the verb "shrink"?

Remember that the past tense is "shrank", the past participle is "shrunk", and the present tense is "shrink" or "shrinks". Using the correct form will improve the accuracy of your writing.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: