Is there another word we can use instead of "get" in this sentence

If you wanted me to put a word in there that wasn't "get", I'd go with "become". I don't think I'd use it like that in a casual conversation, but I'm certain that it can be used there.

"How'd the window break?" "How'd the window become broken?"

Odd one out here because I don't think "get broken" is super clunky or unusual. It's true I wouldn't use this wording if I were confronting a culprit about a broken window, but it is a passive way I might word a question if I were trying to reassure, say, a child who saw how the window was broken, that I'm not blaming them for it. Equally it's a question I might use to nudge someone who is supposed to be telling me what happened to get back to the topic because they're waffling, or if I wanted to shift the focus of a story someone was telling me (particularly if it were surprising/new information): "We were having a massive pillow fight earlier and some of the feathers must have drifted out the broken window!" "Wait, how did the window get broken?" In answer to the question, I could see "end up broken" being a different phrasing in some contexts, but that does feel clunkier to me

Only "become" maybe, would work as a direct replacement. But there are lots of other ways to say similar: How was the window broken? What happened to the window? What happened with the broken window? How did the window break? Who broke the window?

People are saying it's a weird sentence. Arguably, yes, but actually it can exist. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjOCT8fAmng](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjOCT8fAmng) HOW'D IT GET BURNED!? Whether it's a weird sentence or not depends on whether you think Nicolas Cage can produce natural dialogue or not.

I would say "how did the window get broken?" You could also say become.

Maybe end up?

Get Become End up End up being Result in being Get is best though.

Get is the bridge between not being broken and being broken. It’s not broken, it gets broken, it is broken. Asking how it got broken has a passive vibe as we’re not trying to name names.

'make my heart' :'( How did the window make my heart broken bro? :'(

End up

How did the windows end up broken How did the window come to be broken How did the window become broken How did the window wind up broken I’m answering the question as posed but it’s generally more natural to say “how did the window break?”

I second whay everyone is saying, "How did the window break?" makes the most sense, or "How did the window end up broken?" if you want to be less direct, though it's a tad awkward. I would just add that in most contexts you could probably say, "How did that happen?" it it would be clear what you mean.

become if you're just trying to avoid 'get': "How did the window break? What happened?"

How did the window arrive broken?

lots of options "come to be", "become", "end up", "wind up", "happen to be"

Get is the only single word we would *normally* use here. We usually don’t say things *become* broken, although we could. Broken describes a state of being, so become is acceptable. Normally either things are broken or they get broken. To be (Is/are) can’t work here because the breaking is in the past, so you’d have to say “how was the window broken?” To use it in this space you’d have to say “how did it come to be broken?” It’s overly formal but it works. Become means come to be. So it’s equivalent and technically correct; it’s just a weird way to say it. We might use that in certain circumstances. I think it’s the only correct answer here, but everyone - and I mean everyone - would choose *get* as the correct word for this question.

I mean, under what circumstances did this window arrive at a state in which the glass pane, which was once whole, became shattered into multiple smaller pieces?" Also works. However that's a bit wordy so "get" is the best option

"Become." That's not important. The important bit is the correct answer, which is "Defenestration." If anyone asks you how a window got broken, say: "I defenestrated the last person who asked me how the window got broken."

Become

The *only* phrasing I can think of that works would be "How did the window *end-up/wind-up* broken?". Which is more two words than one. All the single-word additions I can think of ("get", "become", etc) just comes off the tongue very odd.

I personally would say “How did the window break?” Instead. Or “What happened to the window?” for more general use.

**How did the window become broken?** It’s a very formal and passive way of speaking. This is the style used in scientific writing, but you won’t see it much outside of research publications. **How was the window broken?** **How did the window break?** **What happened to the window?** The last sounds the most natural to me, but all of them are fine.

Single word? Not that doesn't sound completely weird, like 'How did the window become broken?" I tend to agree with others, though, even with "get" it feels stilted.