What are phrasal verbs? These are expressions where their meaning is quite different from the individual words’ literal interpretations.
The verb “get” is one of the most versatile and widely used words in the English language. It is used in many phrasal verbs, each carrying distinct meanings. Let’s explore some common phrasal verbs with “get” and how they can be used in everyday conversations.
Do you have a friend or colleague that just never seems to finish (or start) anything?
Are they always saying that “they just need to get around to it”
This might be what they are looking for…
Phrasal Verb |
Example |
Meaning |
Literal Meaning Example |
Get through |
I need to get through this work before the going home. |
To complete or endure a challenging task or situation |
Get through a narrow gap |
Get off |
I get off at the next bus stop |
To leave a mode of transportation |
Get off the bed I need to move it |
Get up |
Those kids are getting up to mischief. |
Doing things that cause trouble or damage |
I get up from the bed |
Get by |
During hard times, we need to find ways to get by |
To manage or survive with what is available |
To get by or overtake a slow moving vehicle |
Get in |
We’ll get in late tonight due to traffic |
To arrive at a destination |
Get in the car |
Get over |
It took me a while to get over our breakup |
To recover from an illness, setback, or emotional distress |
Get over the river |
Get along |
My colleagues and I get along really well |
To have a harmonious relationship |
The help you get along the way |
Get away |
I hope we can get away this weekend |
To go away for a period |
Get away from me |
Get away |
He will never get away with it, he is bound to be caught. |
To escape capture |
|
Get ahead |
He will never get ahead in life with that negative attitude |
To make progress or succeed. |
Get ahead of this guy, he's driving too slow |
Get ahead |
Don’t get ahead of yourself, we need to move slowly |
To get carried away or to be too eager/over confident |
|
Get across |
I found it hard to get across how much I love her |
To explain |
It's impossible to get across the road with all this traffic |
Get down |
She really gets me down with all the nagging. |
Be depressed/ sad |
You need to get down into the bomb shelter |
I get [i] early every day for work. If I don’t I will never get [ii] my workload. It’s not like I earn a lot, just enough to get [iii]. We normally get [iv] work at about 9am, luckily I get _ [v] well with my colleagues, perhaps it’s because none of us are really interested in getting _ [vi] in the company, so there is no competitiveness. Then it’s time to get [vii] to work. I have a presentation to make in the afternoon, I hope I can get my points [viii] clearly. If all goes well I should be able to get [ix] by 4:30pm, catch the bus home and make sure to get [x] at my stop, last time I missed it! Then its an early supper for me and hopefully I can get [xi] bed by 9pm.
[i] up
[ii] through
[iii] by
[iv] to
[v] on
[vi] ahead
[vii] down
[viii] across
[ix] away
[x] off
[xi] to