Phrasal verb GET, colloquial expressions and idioms. Phrasal verb get in English Reinforcing exercise on the use of the verb to get

Phrasal verb is a special type of verb that is formed by adding to a simple verb pretext (in,on etc.) or adverbs (down, up etc.). As a result of this, the original meaning of the simple verb is lost.

Today we will look at the most “many-faced” and popular in English - the verb to get.

In English, phrasal verbs allow one verb to take on literally dozens of meanings depending on what you add to it. They can take the same aspectual and tense forms as ordinary verbs. phrasal verbs Despite the fact that phrasal verbs in English language, as a rule, is used more in colloquial speech than in business communication, the need to know it has not become any less. In spoken English, these verb constructions have gained immense popularity. Being a kind of originality of the English language, they will help you add “naturalness” to your speech. By using these forms, you can avoid some of the dryness that is typical of those who learn a language from textbooks. We also often learn individual words, which we then translate “word for word,” thereby making the language unnatural. Today, by learning some of the "root" constructions of the language, you will become one step closer to normal English speech.

It was no coincidence that I named the verb to get“many-faced”: the fact is that a huge number of prepositions and adverbs come into contact with a given verb, radically changing their semantic characteristics. However, it can also show its diversity, taking the form of not only a phrasal, but also a simple verb. In English, one word can have many meanings, especially if it is a verb. And even more so if this verb is GET

Simple verb to get

Let's consider all the meanings that a simple form of a verb can take to get using example sentences.

12 meanings of the simple verb to get:

Receive
I got this work, because I have the experience. — I got this job because I have experience
Buy
He gets the black clothes, because he likes black color. — He buys black clothes because black is his favorite color.
Become (sentences like: “It’s dawning” / “It’s getting dark” require this verb)
It is getting dark. — It’s getting dark. (Getting darker)
Bring something to someone
I will get you the cup of tea. - I'll bring you a cup of tea
Complete
I can get this work by evening. — I can finish this work by evening
to force someone, to persuade someone
I will get him to go with us. - I'll persuade him to come with us.
Transfer
I want to get table in the other room. — I want to move the table to another room
get there, arrive
It take me 10 minutes to get to the railway station. — It takes me 10 minutes to get to the train station
Earn
I got USD 12,000 this year. — I earned 12,000 this year
place, place
Mary cannot get all the books in her bag. — Mary can't fit all the books in her bag
Understand
I didn't get the main idea of the story. — I didn’t understand the main idea of the story
Get there using any transport, find transport (catch)
Nick got a taxi. — Nick hailed a taxi.
I get there by boat. — I get there by boat

Forms of the phrasal verb get

Even more “spectacular” versatility is manifested by this verb when it takes on various forms of a phrasal verb. The phrasal verb get has become one of the most popular verbs in the English language. When studying its meanings, do not forget to pay attention to the sentences, since entire forms are better remembered than words taken individually!
Forms of the phrasal verb get Get up —

get up
wake someone up
intensify (about natural disasters, about feelings, about emotions)
dress up, put on

Kate gets up at 9 o'clock. — Kate gets up at 9 am.
Get him up, we are late. - Wake him up, we're late.
Fire got up and they had to carry water faster. “The fire was getting worse and they had to carry water faster.
“Nick, get yourself up this blue shirt,” said his wife. “Nick, put on this blue shirt,” said the wife.

Get along (with somebody)- Get along with)

Amanda gets along with her boss. — Amanda gets along with her boss

Get along-

hold out, get by (without something)
succeed
get along

Ann got along without water two days. — Ann lasted two days without water
Tom got along with his new article. — Tom finished his article
Nick gets along with his father-in-law. — Nick gets along with his stepfather

Get around- visit, bring to visit

Get around your girl-friend. — Bring your friend to visit

Get away- to escape, to avoid

They get away from FBR. — They're running from the FBI

Get down- go down

I should get down, he is waiting for me. - I have to go down, he's waiting for me

Get back- return, return

We got back your money. - We returned your money

Get in —

Win the elections
Plant (in the soil)
Gather (tax, harvest)
Insert (words)
Enter (college, university, etc.)

Be sure, you will get in at the election. - Be sure that you will win the elections.
I got in the potatoes. — I planted potatoes.
I will get in the apples and pears. — I'll pick apples and pears.
I want to get some words in. — I want to insert a few words.

Get off —

depart, depart
Start off
Clean
Save yourself, avoid punishment
Getting out of transport

We ought to be getting off. - We have to go
She got off her work successfully. — She started her work successfully
I can get this stain off my dress. — I can remove this stain from my dress

(Note the example above. There are cases where an object can be placed between a verb and an adverb/preposition. Such sentences have what is called a “separable” verb.)

Tom got off thanks to you. - Tom escaped punishment thanks to you
Lise will get off at the 3rd station. — Liz will get off at the third stop

Get on —

Get on (in transport)
Get started...

You'll get on the bus tomorrow. - Tomorrow you will take the bus
Drear children, get on to your test. — Dear children, start the test.

Get out —

leave, get out, leave
pull out, take out

“Get out, Mike!”, the girl-friend shouted. - “Get out, Mike!” - his girlfriend shouted
“Get her out, please,” asked Kate. - “Pull her out, please.” - Kate asked

Get over —

Coping, overcoming difficulties
Go, move
Finish

She'll get over it. - She can handle it
I think you should get over there. - I think you should move there
Mary will get over with her project very soon. — Very soon Mary will finish her project

Get through —

Pass the exam
Deal with something/someone

Many students didn’t get through - Many students did not pass the exam
He'll get through with this impolite boy! - He will deal with this impolite guy!

Reinforcement exercise on the use of the verb to get

To consolidate, I suggest downloading and completing the following exercise: in the sentences, instead of spaces, insert the word necessary in meaning. Below you will find answers to all the suggestions that will help you find out whether you did everything correctly.

I also suggest watching a video lesson on Murphy's Red, developed by English teacher Albert Kakhnovsky, which will allow you to learn even better about the simple and phrasal verb get.
Video:

One of the most common verbs in the English language is the verb to get. And this is no coincidence! After all, this verb is distinguished by an abundance of meanings, participation in stable grammatical and lexical constructions, for example have got and to get used to, as well as big amount and a variety of set expressions and phrasal verbs based on it.

Polysemy and individual lexical meanings

The verb to get is an informal verb and is very common in spoken English. The verb to get is characterized by polysemy, that is, the presence of several lexical meanings, namely:

Meaning	Example	Translation of example
receive	I got some news from my family yesterday.	I received some news from my family yesterday.
purchase	We are going to get a new car by the end of this year.	We are going to buy a new car by the end of this year.
become	Sam is going to get a lawyer. I always get nervous when I have to speak to the audience.	Sam is going to become a lawyer. I always get nervous when I have to speak in public.
get in	Ann always gets into trouble. I usually get home at 5 p.m.	Ann always gets into trouble. I usually get home at 5 pm.
force	Nobody will get me shut up if I don’t want to.	No one will silence me if I don't want to.
understand	Did you get my idea?	Do you get my idea?
get infected	Put on a cap if you don’t want to get cold.	Wear a hat if you don't want to catch a cold.
grab	A young man got my bag and ran away.	The young man grabbed my bag and ran away.
bring, deliver	Get me some orange juice from the refrigerator, please!	Bring me some orange juice from the refrigerator, please!
eat	That angry giant can get you for supper!	That evil giant might eat you for dinner!

It can be noted that most of these meanings revolve around two basic ones: “to receive” and “to become.”

Grammatical features

This verb belongs to the group irregular verbs, which means that it has three main forms, which are not formed according to rules, but require memorization. Here is a table with examples:

theInfinitive(infinitive, initial form)	the Past Simple Tense(past simple tense)	the Past Participle(past participle)
to get	got	got
I want to get home as soon as possible./ I want to get home as soon as possible.	Matthew got his driving license yesterday./ Matthew got his driver's license yesterday.	Tom has got a new job. /Tom got a new job.

The verb to get in most of its meanings (except, perhaps, the meanings of “become”, “get” and “force”) belongs to the group, which indicates the frequent need to put after it and its potential to be used in the passive voice. Although it should be noted that due to its lexical meaning This verb is rarely used in the passive voice:

The verb to get can be used in all tense forms, including Continuous forms. Moreover, its present participle requires not only adding the ending –ing, but also doubling the root consonant – t –: getting.

Set expressions with the verb get

There are a large number of set expressions with the verb to get. Despite the presence of most of them synonyms, expressed by one verb, it is the fixed expressions that are used in colloquial speech more widely and more often. Here are just a few of these expressions:

to get on one's nerves	get on someone's nerves	All the people in my class always get on my nerves.	All the people in my class always get on my nerves.
to get rid of smth.	get rid of something	I'd like to get rid of this old furniture.	I would like to get rid of this old furniture.
to get ready	prepare	Get ready for the test, please!	Prepare for the test, please!
to get lost	get lost	It is easy to get lost in a modern shopping mall.	It's easy to get lost in a modern shopping center.
to get married	get married, get married	Paul and Jane have decided to get married.	Paul and Jane decided to get married.
to get divorced	get a divorce	Her parents got divorced two years ago.	Her parents divorced two years ago.
to get dressed	get dressed	She got up late, so she only had a little time to get dressed.	She got up late, so she only had a little time to get dressed.
to get undressed	undress	I was so tired in the evening that I couldn’t even get undressed.	I was so tired in the evening that I couldn’t even undress.
to get changed	change clothes	I need to get changed before we go to the theater.	I need to change before we go to the theater.
to get acquainted	meet	Let me get acquainted with you!	Let me get to know you!
to get to know	meet and make friends	Is it difficult for you to get to know people?	Do you find it difficult to meet people?

It can be noted that the meanings of many of the above stable expressions go back to the meanings of the verb to get itself, but sometimes the connection is quite difficult to trace.

Phrasal verbs with get stem

The verb to get is one of the most common stems for phrasal verbs. However, some of them have multiple meanings. See for yourself:

to get up	get up	Jackusuallygets up at 7 o’clock on weekdays.	Jack usually gets up at 7 o'clock on weekdays.
to get up	get dressed, dress up	Mary got herself up in a very scary costume for Halloween party.	Mary dressed up in a very scary costume for an All Hallows' Day party.
to get down	lie down, bend down	Get down! They are going to shoot!	Get down! They will shoot!
to get down	suppress, upset	This gloomy autumn weather really gets me down.	This gloomy autumn weather is really making me sad.
to get down to smth.	get down to (something)	Let's get down to some work!	Let's get to work.
to get on	take public transport	Ann usually gets on a bus near her university.	Anne usually gets on the bus near her university.
to get on with smb.	get along with someone	Timmy didn’t get on well with his wife’s parents, so he avoided meeting them.	Timmy didn't get along with his wife's parents, so he avoided meeting them.
to get in	get into the car	She got in a taxi and went away.	She got into a taxi and left.
to get off	get off public transport	Ann usually gets off the bus opposite the hotel where I often stay.	Ann usually gets off the bus in front of the hotel where I often stay.
to get off	get off something	Sitting on a desk is bad taste. Please get off your desk!	Sitting on a table is bad manners. Please get off your desk!
to get out of	get out of the car	Mary got out of the taxi and hurried home without looking around.	Mary got out of the taxi and hurried home without looking back.
to get away	run away, sneak away	The thieves were able to get away from the police.	The thieves were able to evade the police.
to get away with smth.	avoid punishment, get away with it	You just can't get away with it!	You won't get away with this so easily!
to get over	climb over something	The criminal got over the wall in the garden and then got into the house.	The offender climbed over the wall in the garden and then entered the house.
to get over	get well, overcome something	Jane has finally gotten over her illness.	Jane has finally recovered from her illness.
to get through	call	The line is always busy. I can't get through!	The line is busy all the time. I can't get through!
to get through	pass a test, exam	Tom has got through his driving test successfully.	Tom passed his driving test.
to get along with	have a good relationship to get along with someone	Fred gets along with his classmates.	Fred has good relationships with his classmates.
to get along without	do without something	I can surely get along without your help.	I can definitely do without your help.
to get across	go to the other side, cross	Now we should get across the river. Let's find a bridge!	Now we should move to the other side of the river. Let's find a bridge!
to get across	convey your thoughts to someone	Lucy can easily get her ideas across.	Lucy can get her ideas across easily.
to get by	make ends meet, survive	Harry works hard to get by.	Harry works hard to make ends meet.

This is not a complete list of phrasal verbs with the stem get, but only a part of the most common ones.

Have got construction

To denote the state of owning something/someone in English, the construction have got is often used. It is easy to see that it is a form Present Perfect from the verb to get, however, such a construction is translated as “is/has”, and not as “received/became”, as would be the case with the Perfect translation from the verb to get, for example:

From the above examples it is clear that the auxiliary verb have takes part in the formation of negatives and questions, as in the tenses of the Perfect group. This construction is more common than the synonymous one verbhave meaning "to have". But it should be remembered that have got is not used instead of have in stable expressions with this verb (for example: to have a bath – take a bath, etc.). The verb have, in turn, requires auxiliary verb do/does to form negative and interrogative sentences:

The to get used to construct

This construction is used not before the infinitive of the verb (as it might seem due to the word to, which, nevertheless, is a preposition here and not an infinitive particle), but before a noun or gerund. Ony has the meaning “to get used to something”, for example:

I moved to Great Britain three years ago. So I got used to* driving on the left.*	I moved to the UK three years ago. That's why I'm used to driving on the left.
Frank's new flat is on a very busy street. I think he'll get *used* to the noise, but at the moment it’s very disturbing.	Frank's new apartment is on a very busy street. I think he will get used to the noise, but for now it is very disturbing.

A related construction is to be used to – “to be accustomed to something.” Under no circumstances should these constructions be confused with the outwardly similar used to construction, the description of which deserves a separate article.

The meanings of the verb get are easy to sort out.

Verb get very often used in English, especially in colloquial speech. It is often said that it is one of the most ambiguous verbs in English: it can be used in different meanings, and is also part of and. Thanks to this versatility, the verb get helps a lot in conversation, simplifying the construction of phrases.

How many meanings does the verb Get have?

Get + noun or pronoun

If the verb get used with a direct object, expressed or, its meaning is “acquire”, “receive”, “buy” and the like.

It can be replaced with words like obtain(receive), receive(receive), buy(buy), purchase(buy, acquire), but in colloquial speech it increasingly comes down to the simple get. It is very comfortable!

Get + adjective or past participle

If get used with or (third form of the verb, Past Participle), it means “to become”, “to transform”, “to pass into a state”, sometimes it can be replaced with a verb become(become).

In the case of the past participle, the meaning can be “to be acted upon,” since the action is directed toward the person or thing being spoken of.

In both cases the verb get often used in tenses (be getting), if you need to emphasize the duration of the action.

Get + adjective = become, move to another state
I am getting(growing, becoming) old.	I'm getting old (getting old).
It's getting(becoming) hotter.	It's getting warmer (getting warmer).
I'm getting(becoming) tired of all this nonsense.	I'm getting tired (getting tired) of this nonsense.
It gets(becomes) dark very early in the winter.	In winter it gets dark (it gets dark) very early.
Don't touch the stove until it gets(becomes) cool.	Do not touch the stove until it cools down (becomes cold).
Get + past participle = to be acted upon
They are getting married in August	They will get married in August
How did you get hired?	How did you get hired?
Get dressed.	Get dressed.

Note: design get + direct object +Past Participle means the performance of an action by one person for another. Instead of get can be used have(more often it is used).

Get + location = arrive

When get used to indicate a place, usually the verb takes the meaning “to arrive”, “to move”, “to get”.

Phrasal verbs with get

Let me remind you that they are called combinations of verb + preposition/adverb, which are perceived and used not as a combination of words, but as an integral speech unit.

The peculiarity of phrasal verbs is that their meaning cannot always be guessed. For example, it is easy to guess that get up- this is “get up”, but the meaning of “get dressed, dress up” is not at all obvious. Phrasal verbs should be perceived and taught not as sets of two or three words, but as integral semantic units.

Here are some common phrasal verbs with get.

Get up-1) get up, get up, 2) get dressed, dress up.

Get up or give up. – Get up or give up.

I want to get up in a nice dress before we go to the party. - I want dress up in a beautiful dress before we go to the party.

Get down– 1) lie down, bend down, 2) upset someone.

It's gonna blow! Get down! - It's about to explode! Get down!

This weather is getting me down.- This weather makes me frustrating.

Get away- run away, avoid, sneak away.

We got away from the cops. - We ran away from the cops.

Get away with something- avoid punishment.

Hey, stop! You can't get away with that! - Hey, stop! This is for you can't get away with it!

He stole my money and thought he could get away withit.- He stole my money and thought that will escape punishment.

Don't kill me! You can't get away withmurder! - Do not kill me! You can't get away with murder!

Note: expression “get away with” “murder” is sometimes used figuratively to mean “to do something bad with impunity.”

She’s our teacher’s daughter, so she always gets away with murder. - She is the daughter of our teacher, so she always gets away with it.

Get over– 1) to get over something, to climb over, 2) to overcome a problem, to cope (including with an illness).

Get over the wall and come here. – Climb over over the wall and come here.

She can't get over her shyness - She can not cope with with your shyness.

The problem can be got over. - The problem may be solved.

I thought she would never get over her illness. - I thought she would never will handle it with illness.

Get off– 1) get off something, 2) get off transport, 3) avoid punishment or get off with a light punishment.

Please, get off the table. - Please, get off from the table.

I'm getting off. - I I'll go(getting off the bus, car, train).

You got fined for a robbery? You got off very lightly. – Have you been fined for robbery? Yes you are got off very easy.

Get on– get on transport: train, bus, plane (NOT in a car).

She got on the bus at 10 a.m. sharp. - She villages on the bus at ten o'clock in the morning.

Get in– 1) enter a room or get into a car, 2) enter an educational institution.

Get in and fasten the belt. – Sit down and fasten your seat belt.

Did your daughter get in? Mine did. - Your daughter did you get in? Mine arrived.

Get through– 1) pass the test, pass the exam, 2) get through by phone.

I didn't get through the exam, it was too difficult. - I don't coped with the exam, it was too difficult.

Did your get through? - You Did you get through?

Get along with- to get along with someone, to be on good terms.

I can't get along with my colleagues. - I can not get along with colleagues.

Are you getting along with your classmates? - Everything is fine with you (you you get along) with classmates?

Get across– 1) cross, go to the other side, 2) achieve understanding, convey a thought.

It's impossible to get across the road with all this traffic. - Impossible cross the road with such a movement.

He's not very good at getting his ideas across.- He's not doing very well manages to convey my thoughts.

Get by– survive, cope with difficult conditions, “stretch out.”

How does she get by on such a small salary? - How is she lives for such a small salary?

It's hard to pay the bills now but we will get by. “It’s hard to pay the bills now, but we we'll handle it.

Set expressions, phrases, idioms with the verb Get

I will also give some stable combinations and the most common expressions with the verb get.

I got\I gotta – I have (short for I have got, see below).

I got a few questions. – I have a few questions.

Get down to the business– move on/get down to business.

Let's get down to the business. - Let's get down to business.

Get real! – Let's face it!

You are not going to be together. Get real. - You won't be together. Let's face it.

Get your hands off! – Get your hands off!

Get your hand off her! - Get your hands off her!

Get it understand.

Did you get what the teacher was explaining in class? - You Understood, What did the teacher explain in class?

Yes, I got it. - Yes I Understood.

Get dinner (lunch, supper etc) – Prepare food.

It's my turn to get breakfast this morning. - Today is my turn Cook breakfast.

Get the bill – pay the bill (eg in a restaurant).

Put your wallet away! I'll get the bill. - Put your wallet away I I'll pay.

Get rid of something- get rid of something.

I'm going to get rid of all these old papers. - I'm going to get rid of all those old newspapers.

Get married\divorced– get married, get married\divorce.

When are you getting married? - When you get married?

Get drunk- get drunk.

Did you get drunk again? - Again drunk?

Get home- come home.

I got a whole lot of things to tell her, when I get home. – I will have a lot to say when I I'll come home.

Get a job- To find a job.

Why didn't you get a job? - Why you are not found a job?

Get hired– get a job (i.e. accepted, hired).

How did you get hired if you had no experience? - How are you got to work without experience?

Get ready- get ready.

Get ready I have got a dog = I have a dog (I have a dog).
She hasn’t got any questions = She doesn’t have any questions (she has no questions).

We’ve got some money = We have some money (we have money).

Have you got any idea? = Do you have any idea? (do you have any thoughts?)

Actually, here is the word get doesn't add any value. Main differences have got from have the following:

Have got used in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences, but only in the present tense.

Have got used in the meaning of “to have, possess” and does not replace have in stable expressions like have breakfast, have fun etc.

Abbreviations 'v or 's possible only with have got \ has got:

He's a new car - wrong(you can: He has a new car).

He’s got a new car – correct.

I’ve many friends – wrong(you can: I have many friends).

I’ve got many friends – correct.

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