English Grammar : Use of "Get"

Get is a very challenging word in English--because it has many very different meanings and

because it is used in many expressions--particularly phrasal verbs and verb +

preposition combinations.

Now we are going to tell you how to use “get”

TO GET + direct object = to obtain, to receive, to buy:

To obtain è

Examples à

(i) She got her driving license last week.

(ii) They got permission to live in Switzerland.

To receive è

Examplesà

(i) I got a letter from my friend in Nigeria.

(ii) He gets $1,000 a year from his father.

To buy è

Examples à

(i) She got a new coat from Zappaloni in Rome.

(ii) We got a new television for the sitting room.

TO GET + place expression = reach, arrive at a place:

Examplesà

(i) We got to London around 6 p.m.

(ii) What time will we get there?

(iii) When did you get back from New York?

TO GET + adjective = to become, show a change of state:

Examples à

(i) It's getting hotter.

(ii) By the time they reached the house they were getting hungry.

(iii) I'm getting tired of all this nonsense.

(iv) My mother's getting old and needs looking after.

(v) It gets dark very early in the winter.

(vi) Don't touch the stove until is gets cool.

TO GET + preposition / adverb is used in many phrasal verbs. Here are some of the most common one è

Examplesà

Phrasal Verb                          Meaning

get at                                      try to express

get away with                       escape punishment for a crime or bad action

get by                                     manage (financially)

get down                                descend; depress

get off                                     leave a form of transport (train, bus, bicycle, plane)

get on                                     enter/sit on a form of transport

(train, bus, bicycle, plane); have a relationship

with someone; manage

get out of                               avoid doing something, especially a duty

get over                                  recover (from an illness, a surprise)

get through                            use or finish the supply of something

get up                                     leave your bed

get up to                                 do - usually something bad

Examples è

à He got on his bicycle and rode down the street.

à He gets up at 6.00 a.m. every morning.

à She got out of the washing-up every day, even when it was her turn.

à We got off the train just before the bomb exploded.

à We've got through all the sugar - can you buy some more?

à The children are very quiet - I wonder what they're getting up to.