The main uses of the verb "GET" in English and some phrasal verbs and expressions with it.

1. The 4 main uses of GET
+ some phrasal verbs and expressions with
GET

2. GET
THE FOUR MAIN USES
1. Get + Noun
2. Get + Adjective
3. Get + to + place
4. Get in/out/on/off

3. 1. Get + Noun =
a. receive
b. buy
c. fetch (definition)
d. find
You GET itYou don’t have
something
You have it

4. 1. Get + Noun
Examples:
a) Did you get my e-mail? (receive)
b) I like your sandals. Where did you
get them? (buy)
c) I threw the ball and the dog got it.
(fetch)
d) Are you going to the beach? Yes, if I
can get my bathing suit.(find)

5. Get + Adjective =
o become (definition)
Examples:
a. After people exercise, they get thirsty
b. It’s getting hot. Can you turn the air conditioner on?
You are not
hungry
You GET
hungry
You are
hungry

6. Get + to + place =
o arrive
Examples:
a. I always get to class late.
Get home and downtown (without
“to”)
b) I got home from work at 8:00pm.

7. Get in/out/on/off =enter/exit
Get in (car) Get out(car)
Get on (bus/train/plane) Get off (bus/train/plane)

8. Phrasal Verbs and
Expressions with Get
o get (something) across
-To make understandable or clear:
I tried to get my point across.
-To be convincing or understandable:
How can I get across to the students?
o get along
-To be or continue to be on harmonious
terms; to have a good relationship:
She gets along with the in-laws.

9. Expressions with Get
o get away
-To break free; escape:
I got away from the thieves
-To leave or go away:
They wanted to come along, but couldn't get
away.
o get back
-To return to a person, place, or condition:
We were just getting back to the subject

10. Expressions with Get
o get on (with)
-To make progress; continue:
They have to get on with the
performance.
o get over
-To recover from:
She finally got over the divorce.

11. Expressions with Get
o get even
-To obtain revenge:
Her busisness partner robbed her and
now she wants to get even.
o get hold/a hold of
-To communicate with, especially by
telephone:
I called her many times, but I couldn’t get a
hold of her.

12. ACTIVITIES
Read the dialogue. Are Peter and Susan enjoying working on
their latest film?
S: What are you getting up to at the weekend?
P: I am going out with Tom and Catherine even though I don’t get
on with them that well. How about you?
S: Not much I guess. I’m still getting over the flu. Do you think I
can get away with taking Monday off?
P: You can ask the director…. but probably not. He’s the worst
director I’ve ever worked with. He’s really getting at us, isn’t he?

13. ACTIVITIES
S: Yes, I wish we could get rid of him.
P: Yes, you’re right. I’m glad we got out of doing that last
scene today because of the bad weather. We got off lightly for
once.
S: Yes, I’ve tried to get through to him that we are working too
hard.
P: I know, but we shouldn’t get too wound up about it. After all
we are earning 17 million each for this film.
Read the dialogue again. Underline all the phrasal verbs with
get:
E.g. He’s really getting at us, isn’t he?
NOW UNDERLINE THE PHRASAL VERBS WITH GET IN
THE DIALOGUE

14. Match the phrasal verbs from the dialogue to the meaning.
A. get up to
1) be successful in something
B. get on with (so)
2) Avoid something you don’t want to do
C. get over (st,so)
3) Get angry about something
D. get away with (st)
4) recover from
E. get at (so)
5) To experience less suffering than expected
F. get rid of (st,so)
6) Successfully explain something
G. get out of (doing st)
7) do
H. get off lightly
8) have a good relationship
I. get through to (so)
9) criticise someone repeatedly
J. get wound up (about st)
10) Remove/throw away something unwanted
st = something so = someone