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Using the verb get Masterclass

the verb get masterclass

The Verb Get - The Student Worksheet

Some study and MUCH practice is required with this verb. We must first read and understand the different uses and meanings of the verb.
This verb is one of the keys to using English like a native speaker.

6 Tenses Forms:

Past Simple = I got 

Present Perfect = I have gotten / I have got 

Present Simple = I get 

Present Continuous = I am getting 

Future Simple = I will get 

PART I - Get used as a substitute verb

For each of these substitute verbs,  create your own personal example. 

1. Get = arrive 

Example 1: I got here in spite of the traffic 

Example 2: What time do you get here? 

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

2. Get = become (for a change in condition or status)

Example 1: The weather is getting hotter  

Example 2: I need to get ready / I am getting ready 

Example 3: The children are getting bored at the beach 

Example 4: I’m getting hungry 

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

3. Get = buy

Example 1: Where can I get a newspaper?

Example 2: Where did you get your t-shirt?   

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

4. Get = obtain 

Example 1: John got his driving license last year  

Example 2: He went to get his keys

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

5. Get = to pick up (interchangeable) 

Example 1: I’ll get you at the airport  

Example 2: I’ll come and get you at 6:30 pm 

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

6. Get = receive 

Example 1: Did you get my email? 

Example 2: I got a postcard from my sister

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

7. Get = persuade (open to interp)

Example 1: Why don’t you get your sister to babysit for you? 

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

8. Get = understand

Example 1: Do you get it?

Example 2: I didn’t get it (the joke)

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

9. Get = do 

Example 1: I need to get my nails done

Example 2: I need to get my hair done

Your personal example: …………………………………………………..

Exercise 1

There are other examples of substitute verbs in the exercise below. 

Try and “get” the correct substitute verbs. What does ‘get’ mean in these sentences?

Pause the video after each example to write the substitute verb.

1. He got rich by buying a lot of property when prices were low. 

Substitute = ………………………

2. I don’t get why she’s always got to be the one who decides the agenda.

Substitute 1 = ………………………

Substitute 2 = ………………………

3. He’s got a great car. He got it last year on Ebay! 

Substitute 1 = ………………………

Substitute 2 = ………………………

4. I just got a message from Emma. She wants me to get her a coffee.

Substitute 1 = ……………………… 

Substitute 2 = ………………………

5. Melanie got the flu a few weeks ago. She still doesn’t feel too good, so she’s getting the train to work till she feels well enough to drive again. 

Substitute 1 = ………………………

Substitute 2 = ………………………

6. My boss always says, “I don’t care, just get it done”

Substitute = ………………………

Exercise 2

What is the substitute verb in the following examples? 

(Answers at the end of the page)

1. I applied for tickets but didn’t get a reply.  

2. We got the plane to Paris for the match but got there late and didn’t get to see the first half. 

3. Stop making excuses and get running – now! You need to be fitter than this for a Marathon.

4. He got pneumonia because he carried on training and playing even though he was ill. 

5. Ticket prices are getting more expensive. 

6. Can you get another ball from the shed? This one’s punctured. 

7. I don’t get why he was sent off. 

8. The club got two new defenders last season. 

PART II - Get used with prepositions = Phrasal verbs

1. To get up 

Example 1: 

Question: What time do you get up everyday? (using Present Simple for habitual actions) 

Answer: I get up at 8 am 

Example 2: Get up from that seat and let your grandmother sit down!

Meaning = to leave your bed/ to stand up from sitting in a chair

Now create your own example that you can use in your life:

Your personal example: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

What’s the difference between wake up and get up?  

What time did you get up yesterday (using Past Simple for finished actions)

What time will you get up this Sunday? (Future Simple) 

2. To get down

Example 1: Get down from the table! (using the imperative in Present Simple for an order) 

Example 2: Rainy days get me down 

Meaning = to move from a higher level to a lower level  (physically or emotionally)

Now create your own example that you can use in your life:

Your personal example: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

What’s the difference between get down and come down?

What things can get you down sometimes?

3. To get in

Example 1: She got in really later last night (using Past Simple for finished actions) 

Example 2: What time did you get in last night? 

Meaning = to arrive home 

To get in a car: (remember the exception = to enter a car / truck / taxi / lorry)

Example 3: She got in the car in a hurry 

Meaning = to enter a car/ / truck / taxi / lorry

 

Now create your own example that you can use in your life:

Your personal example: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

What’s the opposite of get in?

What was the last vehicle that you got in?

4. To get out

To get out of a car: (remember the exception = to exit a car / truck / taxi / lorry)

Example 1: We got out of the taxi in front of the restaurant 

Meaning = to exit a car/ / truck / taxi / lorry

To get out of (something)

Example 2: I couldn’t think of an excuse to get out of the meeting  

Meaning = to avoid/ escape from

Example 3: Get out of those wet cloths, you’ll catch a cold!

Meaning = to remove/ to take off 

 

Now create your own examples that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 2: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 3: ……………………………………………………….

5. To get on 

To get on a transport = metro, plane, motorbike, horse, bicycle etc 

Example 1: He got on the metro at Liverpool Street

Meaning = to enter a form of transport

To get on with (someone) 

Example 2: Do you get on with your mother?

Example 3: Do you get on with your boss?

Meaning = to have a good relationship with  

To get on with a job/ project/ task

Example 4: How are you getting on with the new job?

Meaning = to cope/ to manage ( how is it going?)

To get on with (something) 

Example 5: Get on with your work! 

Context: Imperative ( for giving orders ) 

Example 6: Get on with it !

Meaning = to continue doing something / to do a job/ a task immediately 

Now create your own examples that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 2: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 3: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

What’s the opposite of get on?

Do you get on with your boss?

What was the last transport you got on? 

When did you last get on a plane?

6. To get along ( this is the same as “to get on with”)

Example 1: I get along with everyone 

Example 2: Do you get along with your brother?

Meaning = to have a good relationship with someone/something

To get along without

Example 3: 

If I took a week’s vacation, could you get along without me? 

Meaning = to survive / to be able to manage yourself

7. To get off

To get off a transport = metro, plane, motorbike, horse, bicycle etc 

Example 1: She got off the bus at 74th street 

Meaning = to exit all forms of transport (except a car/taxi)

To get off work

Example 2: What time do you get off work?

Meaning = to finish an activity  

 

To get off punishment

Example 3: Michael was on trial for murder but his lawyer was so good he got off 

Meaning = to avoid punishment 

Now create your own examples that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 2: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 3: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

What’s the difference between to get off and to get away with?

Name 2 things that you get off regularly?

8. To get back

To get back from a location

Example 1: I will get back this afternoon 

Meaning = to return 

To get back to someone

Example 2: I will get back to you later

Meaning = to call back / to return a call  

 

To get back into an activity

Example 3: After a long break, I got back into playing tennis  

Meaning = to return to doing a past activity 

Now create your own examples that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 2: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 3: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

When did you get back from your last holiday?

What’s the best way to get back from London at the weekend?

What did The Beatles mean when they sang “get back to where you once belong”?

9. To get over

To get over something

Example 1: Just get over it! 

Meaning = to overcome something/ to stop suffering from something 

To get over an illness/ an emotional issue  

Example 2: It took her a long time to get over her illness

Meaning = to recuperate   

 

Now create your own examples that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 2: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

How long did it take you to get over your first break up? (To break up = to finish a relationship)

What does it mean to say “get over yourself!”? 

10. To get around

To get around by car/bicycle etc 

Example 1: I get around my city by car  

Meaning = to move/ transport 

To get around to something 

Example 2: Will you get around to reading your book?

Meaning = to find the time to do something 

 

Now create your own examples that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 2: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

What’s the best way to get around Amsterdam?

It is easy to get around your city/town on public transport? 

11. To get away

To get away 

Example 1: Did you get away last weekend?  

Meaning = to take a trip/ escape from somewhere  

To get away with

Example 2: to cheat at poker (or a game) and get away with it 

Meaning = to avoid punishment 

To get away with doing something 

Example 3: He is so handsome he can get away with wearing pink

Example 4: She is so intelligent she can get away with not studying for an exam 

Meaning = to take advantage of something/ to afford to do 

Now create your own examples that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 2: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

Describe something that you got away with recently?

Where do you like to get away to?

What do you need to get away from? 

12. To get by

To get by/ To get by  on

Example 1: How much money do you need to get by to live in Paris?

Example 2: I get by on €50 a day in my city 

Meaning = to manage to live / to survive  

Now create your own example that you can use in your life:

Your personal example: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

How much money did you get by on when living as a student?

What does the business need to get by this year? 

 

13. To get through

To get through (communications)

Example 1: Did you get through to the doctor?   

Meaning = to contact/ to make a connection   

To get through a process

Example 2: I got through the first interview  

Meaning = to complete a stage or a step  

Now create your own examples that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Your personal example 2: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

What’s the difference between to get through and to go through? 

14. To get across

To get across a message/communciation 

Example 1: The speaker really got his message across 

Meaning = to communicate successfully  

Now create your own example that you can use in your life:

Your personal example: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

In the last TED Talk you watched, what was the main message the speaker got across?

15. To get ahead

To get ahead

Example 1: If you want to get ahead you should work hard    

Meaning = to make progress/ to improve

Now create your own example that you can use in your life:

Your personal example 1: ……………………………………………………….

Additional Questions: 

What’s the best way to get ahead in your company? 

 

The Verb Get Masterclass

Additional uses of the verb Get:
IDIOMS with Get

There are also lots of idioms and expressions that contain the word ‘get’. 

Discuss what you think they mean with your teacher

don’t get me wrong
get this show on the road getting nowhere
got cold feet 

got into hot water
got off on the wrong foot
got our wires crossed
got the wrong end of the stick got to the bottom of it
to get it off my chest
to get on your soapbox
what you see is what you get 

Idiom exercise

Fill the blanks with one of the the above idioms: 

1. I don’t think it was fair that I …………………….. for being late for the meeting. The team and I must
have ………………………. somehow – most people turned up on time at 9.00, but some of us were sure it was at 9.30. 

2. …………………………….., I think the issue is as important as you do, but we’ve been discussing it for an hour now
and ………………………… so let’s move on to the next item and maybe come back to it later. 

3. Martin was all set to do his first presentation but
he ……………………….. at the last minute and asked me to do it. 

4. Do we know what caused the accident? Has anyone ………………………. yet? 

5. I think I ……………………….. with the new manager – I was calling him Mr Johnson instead of Mr Thompson all day, and no one corrected me! 

6. I like working with Lisa. You never have to wonder what she’s really thinking. With her, ……………………………. 

7. I think Fiona …………………………… when I told her how pleased I was with her recent work – she seems to think she’s next in line for promotion now! 

8. Look I know how strongly you feel about equality in the workplace, and I agree with you. But there’s no
need …………………………… every time the subject comes up! 

9. Ok, it looks like everyone’s here now so let’s ………………………………. 

10. Thanks for listening – I know there’s nothing you can do about it, but it feels good …………………………………! 

Idiom Definitions

don’t get me wrong = don’t misunderstand me
get this show on the road = Let’s start (event, project, presentation, speech etc..)
getting nowhere = not productive, inefficient, going around in a circle
got cold feet = to change opinion or decision
got into hot water = to get into trouble
got off on the wrong/right foot = to start something positively/ negatively
got your wires crossed = to become confused / misunderstand communication
got the wrong end of the stick = to misunderstand a message or communication
got to the bottom of it = to find the source of the problem / where it started
to get it off my chest = to release emotion about something/ to talk about a problem
to get on your soapbox = to express too much opinion
what you see is what you get = it is what it is/ without 

Idiom exercise Solution

1. I don’t think it was fair that I got into hot water for being late for the meeting. The team and I must have got our wires crossed somehow – most people turned up on time at 9.00, but some of us were sure it was at 9.30. 

2. Don’t get me wrong, I think the issue is as important as you do, but we’ve been discussing it for an hour now and getting nowhere so let’s move on to the next item and maybe come back to it later. 

3. Martin was all set to do his first presentation but he got cold feet at the last minute and asked me to do it. 

4. Do we know what caused the accident? Has anyone got to the bottom of it yet? 

5. I think I got off on the wrong foot with the new manager – I was calling him Mr Johnson instead of Mr Thompson all day, and no one corrected me! 

6. I like working with Lisa. You never have to wonder what she’s really thinking. With her, what you see is what you get. 

7. I think Fiona got the wrong end of the stick when I told her how pleased I was with her recent work – she seems to think she’s next in line for promotion now! 

8. Look I know how strongly you feel about equality in the workplace, and I agree with you. But there’s no need to get on your soapbox every time the subject comes up! 

9. Ok, it looks like everyone’s here now so let’s get this show on 

the road.
10. Thanks for listening – I know there’s nothing you can do about it, but it feels good to get it off my chest! 

Phrasal verbs (English to Spanish)

Get on well with someone – lleverse bien
Get over an illness – recuperarse de
Get together with someone – reunirse
Get behind someone or something – quedarse atrás
Get away from – marcharse
Getaway – fugarse
Get through – comunicarse con alguien
Get around – evitar
Get up to – llegar a
Get along – llevarse bien
To get a surprise – llevarse una sopresa
To get the impression that – tener la impressión de que
To get something done – hacer algo
To get going – poner en marcha
To get married – casarse
To get used to – acostumbrarse a algo
To get to like – coger afición
To get to do – llegar a hacer algo
To get to see – lograr ver a alguien

 

Additional    (Slang)

Get pissed
Get laid
Get high
Get fucked up
Get wasted
Get into trouble
Why don´t you get fucked?
Get your shit together
Get stoned

Part I Exercise 2: Answers

1. I applied for tickets but didn’t get a reply. = receive

2. We got the plane to Paris for the match but got there late and didn’t get to see the first half = took/arrived/weren’t able to

3. Stop making excuses and get running – now! You need to be fitter than this for a Marathon = start

4. He got pneumonia because he carried on training and playing even though he was ill = contracted

5. Ticket prices are getting more expensive. = becoming

6. Can you get another ball from the shed? This one’s punctured = bring

7. I don’t get why he was sent off = understand

8. The club got two new defenders last season = acquire

There is an updated version of this material in the Essential English Online Course. It is a 1 hour video divided into 2 parts. Part 1 is Get used a substitute verb. Part 2 is get used with prepositions = Phrasal Verbs. 

Watch the course introduction video!

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Justin Donlon

English Teacher & Content Developer Over 15 years of experience in engaging educational content

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