She got her bag caught vs. She had her bag caught

grammarmeaning

There is the following example:

She got her bag caught in the train doors as they were closing.

I surmise I could say . . .

She had her bag caught in the train doors as they were closing.

. . . as well without having any relevant or significant difference in meaning. If not, please tell me as to how they differ in meaning.

Best Answer

In American English there's a subtle difference:

Subway Policeman: Why do you have this woman's purse and why is she lying unconscious on the floor of the subway car?

Male Passenger: She had her bag caught in the door and we were both tugging on it trying to get it free. It came loose all of a sudden and we both fell backwards and she hit her head on the edge of the seat.

Other passengers: That's the truth. He's not lying. He's a hero, not a thief. Yadda yadda yadda.

If the Male Passenger had said "She got her bag caught" the Subway Policeman might infer that the Male Passenger had witnessed it getting caught, whereas "She had her bag caught" is simply a way of referring to the existing state of affairs that explains the Male Passenger's involvement.

"She had her bag caught" could be paraphrased "Her bag was caught" whereas "She got her bag caught" could be paraphrased "Her bag got caught".

Compare:

She had her car door open.

She had her cat in the back.

She had the music blaring.

She had some tin cans tied to the bumper.

She had some TP stuck to her shoe.

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