Phrasal verbs are a crucial part of the English language, often causing confusion for learners. Among these, phrasal verbs with ‘get’ are particularly common and versatile.
Understanding these verbs is essential for improving both comprehension and fluency in English. This article provides a comprehensive guide to 30 common phrasal verbs with ‘get’, offering clear definitions, examples, and practice exercises.
This guide is perfect for English language learners of all levels, from beginners seeking to expand their vocabulary to advanced speakers aiming to refine their understanding of idiomatic expressions.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What are Phrasal Verbs with ‘Get’?
- Structural Breakdown
- Categories of Phrasal Verbs with ‘Get’
- Examples of Phrasal Verbs with ‘Get’
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Introduction
Phrasal verbs are a fundamental aspect of the English language, enriching communication and adding depth to expression. Among the many phrasal verbs, those formed with the verb “get” are particularly prevalent and versatile.
Mastering these phrasal verbs is crucial for anyone seeking to achieve fluency and a nuanced understanding of English. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to 30 common phrasal verbs with “get,” equipping learners with the knowledge and practice they need to confidently use these expressions in various contexts.
Understanding phrasal verbs with “get” can significantly enhance your ability to comprehend spoken and written English. These verbs often convey meanings that are not immediately obvious from the individual words themselves.
By learning their definitions, usage patterns, and common contexts, you can unlock a deeper level of understanding and improve your overall communication skills. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide offers valuable insights and practical exercises to help you master these essential expressions.
This article is designed to be both informative and accessible, providing clear explanations, numerous examples, and engaging practice activities. We will explore the different categories of phrasal verbs with “get,” examine their structural components, and address common mistakes to avoid.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid foundation in using these phrasal verbs effectively and confidently in your everyday communication.
What are Phrasal Verbs with ‘Get’?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs). The combination creates a new meaning that is different from the original verb.
Phrasal verbs are idiomatic expressions, meaning their meaning cannot be easily deduced from the individual words. Phrasal verbs with ‘get’ are phrasal verbs that use the verb ‘get’ as the main verb.
The addition of a particle changes the meaning of ‘get’, creating a new verb with a distinct definition.
The verb ‘get’ on its own can mean to receive, obtain, or understand. However, when combined with prepositions or adverbs, it forms phrasal verbs with a wide range of meanings.
These meanings can include arrival, departure, success, avoidance, and many more. Understanding these phrasal verbs is essential for both comprehending and using English effectively.
Classification of Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal verbs can be classified as either separable or inseparable. Separable phrasal verbs allow a noun or pronoun object to be placed between the verb and the particle. Inseparable phrasal verbs do not allow this separation. With phrasal verbs with ‘get’, some are separable and some are inseparable, depending on the specific verb. Understanding the separability of a phrasal verb is crucial for using it correctly in a sentence.
Function and Contexts
Phrasal verbs with “get” function as verbs, expressing actions, states, or processes. They are used in a wide variety of contexts, from casual conversations to formal writing.
The specific meaning of a phrasal verb with “get” depends on the particle that follows the verb. For example, “get up” means to rise from bed, while “get over” means to recover from an illness or disappointment.
The context in which the phrasal verb is used often provides clues to its meaning.
The function of phrasal verbs with “get” extends beyond simply conveying information; they also add nuance and color to language. They can express emotions, attitudes, and relationships in a way that single-word verbs often cannot.
For instance, “get along with” expresses a positive relationship, while “get away with” suggests avoiding punishment or consequences. By mastering these nuances, you can communicate more effectively and naturally in English.
Consider the following examples to illustrate the diverse functions and contexts of phrasal verbs with “get”:
- “I need to get through this project by Friday.” (Meaning: complete or finish)
- “She’s trying to get around the rules.” (Meaning: avoid or circumvent)
- “We need to get together soon for coffee.” (Meaning: meet or assemble)
Structural Breakdown
The basic structure of a phrasal verb with ‘get’ is get + particle. The particle can be a preposition (e.g., *get in*, *get on*, *get to*) or an adverb (e.g., *get away*, *get back*, *get up*). Some phrasal verbs may also include two particles (e.g., *get away with*). The meaning of the phrasal verb is determined by the combination of ‘get’ and the particle(s).
Transitivity: Phrasal verbs can be transitive or intransitive. A transitive phrasal verb takes an object, while an intransitive phrasal verb does not. For example, “get over” can be transitive (e.g., “get over the flu”) or intransitive (e.g., “I need to get over it”). The transitivity of a phrasal verb affects how it is used in a sentence.
Separability: As mentioned earlier, some phrasal verbs are separable, meaning the object can be placed between ‘get’ and the particle. However, if the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between ‘get’ and the particle. For example, “get it over with” is correct, but “get over with it” is incorrect. Inseparable phrasal verbs do not allow the object to be placed between ‘get’ and the particle.
Here’s a table summarizing the key structural elements:
| Element | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | ‘Get’ – the main verb | Get |
| Particle | Preposition or adverb | In, On, Away, Back |
| Transitivity | Transitive (takes an object) or Intransitive (no object) | Transitive: Get over the flu. Intransitive: Get up early. |
| Separability | Separable (object can go between verb and particle) or Inseparable (object cannot) | Separable: Get the job done. Get it done. Inseparable: Get along with her. |
Categories of Phrasal Verbs with ‘Get’
Phrasal verbs with ‘get’ can be grouped into several categories based on their meaning. These categories can help learners understand and remember the different phrasal verbs.
The following are some common categories:
Arrival and Departure
These phrasal verbs relate to arriving at or leaving a place. Examples include ‘get in’, ‘get out’, ‘get to’, and ‘get away’.
These phrasal verbs are commonly used when discussing travel or movement.
Obtaining and Receiving
These phrasal verbs relate to acquiring something, whether it is a physical object, information, or a state. Examples include ‘get hold of’, ‘get something back’, and ‘get a promotion’.
These phrasal verbs are useful for describing how people acquire or receive things.
Relationships and Interactions
These phrasal verbs describe how people interact with each other. Examples include ‘get along with’, ‘get back at’, and ‘get through to’.
These phrasal verbs are essential for discussing social dynamics and personal relationships.
Progress and Achievement
These phrasal verbs relate to making progress or achieving a goal. Examples include ‘get ahead’, ‘get by’, and ‘get through’.
These phrasal verbs are useful for discussing accomplishments and challenges.
Examples of Phrasal Verbs with ‘Get’
This section provides examples of 30 common phrasal verbs with ‘get’, organized by category. Each example includes a definition and a sentence illustrating its usage.
Arrival and Departure Examples
The following table provides examples of phrasal verbs with ‘get’ related to arrival and departure. Each example includes a definition and an example sentence.
| Phrasal Verb | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Get in | Enter a car or building | I’ll get in the car and wait for you. |
| Get out | Leave a car or building | Please get out of my way. |
| Get to | Arrive at a place | What time did you get to the airport? |
| Get away | Escape | The robbers managed to get away with the money. |
| Get off | Leave a bus, train, or plane | We need to get off at the next stop. |
| Get on | Enter a bus, train, or plane | I’ll get on the bus and find a seat. |
| Get back | Return to a place | When will you get back from your trip? |
| Get around | To travel to different places | It’s easy to get around the city by bus. |
| Get over | To move from one place to another, often implying difficulty | We need to get over to the other side of the river. |
| Get through | To pass or penetrate something | We need to get through the crowd to reach the stage. |
| Get down | To descend or lower oneself | She had to get down from the ladder carefully. |
| Get along | To proceed or move forward | We need to get along if we want to reach the summit. |
| Get into | To enter a place or area | How did they get into the building without a key? |
| Get onto | To board or mount something | He managed to get onto the horse with some difficulty. |
| Get past | To move beyond or overcome something | We need to get past this obstacle to continue. |
| Get behind | To move to the rear of something | The car tried to get behind the truck to avoid the wind. |
| Get up to | To approach or move close to something or someone | What did you get up to when you were in Las Vegas? |
| Get forth | To come out or emerge | The sun got forth from behind the clouds. |
| Get inside | To enter the interior of a place | Let’s get inside before it starts raining. |
| Get outside | To go to or be in the exterior of a place | I need to get outside for some fresh air. |
Obtaining and Receiving Examples
The following table provides examples of phrasal verbs with ‘get’ related to obtaining and receiving. Each example includes a definition and an example sentence.
| Phrasal Verb | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Get hold of | Obtain or find something | I need to get hold of a copy of that book. |
| Get something back | Recover something | I hope I can get my money back. |
| Get a promotion | Receive a higher position at work | She worked hard and got a promotion. |
| Get paid | Receive money for work | When do we get paid this month? |
| Get a degree | Obtain an academic qualification | He studied hard to get a degree in engineering. |
| Get a job | Find employment | It’s difficult to get a job in this economy. |
| Get a chance | Receive an opportunity | I hope I get a chance to travel next year. |
| Get access to | Obtain the right or opportunity to use or see something | You need a password to get access to the system. |
| Get approval for | Receive official permission or agreement | We need to get approval for the project before we start. |
| Get credit for | Receive recognition or praise for something done | She didn’t get credit for her contributions to the team. |
| Get custody of | Obtain the legal right to take care of a child | The mother got custody of the children after the divorce. |
| Get funding for | Receive financial support for a project or activity | They managed to get funding for their research. |
| Get information about | Obtain details or knowledge about a subject | Where can I get information about the local attractions? |
| Get insurance for | Obtain a policy that provides financial protection | It’s important to get insurance for your car. |
| Get permission to | Receive authorization to do something | You need to get permission to enter the restricted area. |
| Get support from | Receive help or assistance from someone | She got support from her family during the crisis. |
| Get the chance to | Receive the opportunity to do something | I hope I get the chance to travel to Europe someday. |
| Get the hang of | Become skilled or proficient at something | It took me a while, but I finally get the hang of coding. |
| Get the message | Understand or realize something | I think he finally get the message that we don’t want to see him. |
| Get the picture | Understand a situation or idea | Okay, I get the picture; we need to leave now. |
Relationships and Interactions Examples
The following table provides examples of phrasal verbs with ‘get’ related to relationships and interactions. Each example includes a definition and an example sentence.
| Phrasal Verb | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Get along with | Have a good relationship with someone | I get along with my neighbors very well. |
| Get back at | Take revenge on someone | He tried to get back at me for the prank. |
| Get through to | Make someone understand | I can’t seem to get through to him. |
| Get together | Meet socially | Let’s get together for coffee next week. |
| Get in touch with | Contact someone | I’ll get in touch with you soon. |
| Get involved with | Participate in | She decided to get involved with the local charity. |
| Get rid of | Eliminate or discard | We need to get rid of the old furniture. |
| Get away with | Avoid punishment | He thought he could get away with cheating. |
| Get over someone | Recover from the end of a relationship | It takes time to get over someone you loved. |
| Get around someone | Persuade or deceive someone | She knows how to get around her father. |
| Get mixed up with | Become involved with someone or something, often negatively | He got mixed up with the wrong crowd. |
| Get through to someone | Successfully communicate with someone | It’s hard to get through to him when he’s angry. |
| Get close to someone | Develop a strong emotional connection with someone | They got close to each other during the trip. |
| Get friendly with someone | Become friends with someone | She tried to get friendly with her new colleagues. |
| Get even with someone | Take revenge on someone | He’s planning to get even with those who wronged him. |
| Get into a fight with | Become involved in a physical or verbal altercation | They got into a fight with each other over a parking spot. |
| Get into trouble with | Experience problems or difficulties due to an action | He got into trouble with the police for speeding. |
| Get on someone’s nerves | Irritate or annoy someone | His constant complaining is starting to get on my nerves. |
| Get the better of someone | Defeat or outsmart someone | His experience got the better of his opponent. |
| Get the wrong end of the stick | Misunderstand something | I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick; that’s not what I meant. |
Progress and Achievement Examples
The following table provides examples of phrasal verbs with ‘get’ related to progress and achievement. Each example includes a definition and an example sentence.
| Phrasal Verb | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Get ahead | Make progress or be successful | You need to work hard to get ahead in this company. |
| Get by | Manage to survive or cope | We can get by on a small budget. |
| Get through | Complete or finish something | I need to get through this report by tomorrow. |
| Get started | Begin an activity | Let’s get started on the project. |
| Get done | Finish or complete | I’m glad to finally get this project done. |
| Get on with | Continue doing something | I need to get on with my work. |
| Get underway | Begin or start | The project will get underway next week. |
| Get moving | Start moving or taking action | We need to get moving if we want to catch the train. |
| Get the ball rolling | Start something; initiate | Let’s get the ball rolling and start planning the event. |
| Get somewhere | Make progress | If we try this approach, we might get somewhere. |
| Get cracking | Start doing something quickly and enthusiastically | If we want to finish on time, we need to get cracking. |
| Get a head start | Start something before others | By studying over the summer, she got a head start in the class. |
| Get in gear | Start working effectively | It’s time to get in gear and focus on our goals. |
| Get into action | Begin to take action | The rescue team got into action immediately after the disaster. |
| Get the show on the road | Begin an event or activity | Okay, everyone, let’s get the show on the road! |
| Get to grips with | Understand and deal with something difficult | It takes time to get to grips with the new software. |
| Get the job done | Complete a task successfully | As long as we get the job done, I don’t care how we do it. |
| Get down to business | Start focusing on what is important | Alright, let’s get down to business and discuss the agenda. |
| Get one’s act together | Organize oneself to achieve something | If he wants to succeed, he needs to get his act together. |
| Get the wheels turning | Start the process of achieving something | We need to get the wheels turning to start the project. |
Usage Rules
When using phrasal verbs with ‘get’, there are several rules to keep in mind:
- Word Order: For separable phrasal verbs, remember that if the object is a pronoun, it must go between ‘get’ and the particle. For example, “get it done” is correct, but “get done it” is incorrect.
- Tense: The verb ‘get’ changes tense according to the context of the sentence. For example, “I got over the flu” (past tense) or “I am getting over the flu” (present continuous tense).
- Formality: Phrasal verbs are generally more common in informal spoken English than in formal written English. In formal writing, it may be more appropriate to use a single-word verb with a similar meaning.
- Context: The meaning of a phrasal verb can vary depending on the context. Pay attention to the surrounding words and the overall situation to determine the correct meaning.
Exceptions: Some phrasal verbs with ‘get’ have multiple meanings. For example, ‘get over’ can mean to recover from an illness or to overcome an obstacle. The specific meaning depends on the context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often make mistakes when using phrasal verbs with ‘get’. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I need to get done it. | I need to get it done. | Pronoun objects must go between ‘get’ and the particle in separable phrasal verbs. |
| I get over the flu quickly. | I got over the flu quickly. | Use the correct tense of ‘get’ based on the context. |
| She gets on very good with her colleagues. | She gets along very well with her colleagues. | Use the correct particle (‘along’ instead of ‘on’) and adverb (‘well’ instead of ‘good’). |
| We must to get rid of this trash. | We must get rid of this trash. | Do not insert ‘to’ between the modal verb and ‘get’. |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of phrasal verbs with ‘get’ with these practice exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences with the correct phrasal verb with ‘get’. Choose from the following options: *get in, get out, get to, get away, get along with*.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. What time did you ________ the office this morning? | get to |
| 2. The thief tried to ________ with the stolen jewelry. | get away |
| 3. I don’t ________ my sister’s boyfriend. | get along with |
| 4. Please ________ the car; we’re running late. | get in |
| 5. You need to ________ of this building immediately! | get out |
| 6. They managed to _____ the airport just in time for their flight. | get to |
| 7. I’m trying to _____ this situation without causing any problems. | get through |
| 8. Can you help me _____ the right information for my project? | get hold of |
| 9. It’s important to _____ regular exercise to stay healthy. | get in |
| 10. They’re planning to _____ the country for a much-needed vacation. | get away from |
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentence.
| Question | Options | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I need to ________ my ex-boyfriend. | (a) get over (b) get through (c) get along | (a) get over |
| 2. Let’s ________ for dinner this weekend. | (a) get back (b) get together (c) get away | (b) get together |
| 3. She’s trying to ________ her boss for the mistake. | (a) get back at (b) get away with (c) get through to | (b) get away with |
| 4. He finally ________ his fear of heights. | (a) got over (b) got by (c) got ahead | (a) got over |
| 5. They are trying to ________ the message to the public. | (a) get through (b) get through to (c) get by | (b) get through to |
| 6. How did you _____ such a good deal on that car? | (a) get by (b) get up (c) get away with | (c) get away with |
| 7. It’s difficult to _____ in this tough economic climate. | (a) get by (b) get in (c) get along | (a) get by |
| 8. We need to _____ this project before the deadline. | (a) get through (b) get over (c) get by | (a) get through |
| 9. The company is hoping to _____ a new market share this year. | (a) get in (b) get ahead (c) get up | (b) get ahead |
| 10. Make sure you _____ of the car before it drives off. | (a) get out (b) get in (c) get along | (a) get out |
Exercise 3: Sentence Completion
Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the phrasal verb provided in brackets.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. If you want to ________ in your career, you need to work hard. (get ahead) | get ahead |
| 2. She’s trying to ________ her fear of flying. (get over) | get over |
| 3. We need to ________ this report by Friday. (get through) | get through |
| 4. They ________ very well with their new neighbors. (get along) | get along |
| 5. He’s planning to ________ his friend for the betrayal. (get back at) | get back at |
| 6. It’s time to ________ this project started. (get) | get |
| 7. How did you ________ such a great deal on that car? (get away with) | get away with |
| 8. I need to ________ a copy of that book. (get hold of) | get hold of |
| 9. You should ________ regular exercise to stay healthy. (get in) | get in |
| 10. They’re planning to ________ the country for a vacation. (get away from) | get away from |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, it’s important to understand the nuances of phrasal verb usage and how they differ from single-word verbs. Pay attention to the register and formality of different phrasal verbs, as some are more appropriate for informal contexts while others can be used in more formal settings.
Consider the subtle differences in meaning between similar phrasal verbs and how these differences can affect the overall tone and meaning of your communication.
One advanced topic is the use of phrasal verbs in passive voice. While some phrasal verbs can be used in the passive voice, others cannot.
It is useful to know which can be used in the passive form and which cannot.
Another advanced topic involves understanding the cultural context in which phrasal verbs are used. Some phrasal verbs may have different connotations or meanings in different cultures or regions.
Being aware of these cultural differences can help you avoid misunderstandings and communicate more effectively.
FAQ
- What is the difference between a phrasal verb and a prepositional verb?
A phrasal verb consists of a verb and a particle (adverb or preposition) where the combination creates a meaning different from the original verb. A prepositional verb consists of a verb followed by a preposition, and the preposition retains its original meaning, indicating a relationship between the verb and its object. For example, “look at” is a prepositional verb because “at” indicates direction, while “look up” (meaning research) is a phrasal verb.