**Some uses of 'get' for learners of English**

Question

My answers will be provided now!!....

Please remember - there is no shame in not knowing, so long as you keep trying you are doing a good job!

Here are 10 examples of uses of the verb 'to get'. It's often combined with other words to make a 'phrasal verb' (as in Spanish you have 'tener que', 'soñar con', 'pensar en' etc) I have at least as many more, but I don't want to overload/overwhelm people.

I think 10 are enough to make a start, I'll write a sentence in English using a conjugation of 'get', and you can try to think of a way to express the same meaning using a different word/s.

Here they are in Audio: 10 uses of 'get'

• Get me another knife from the kitchen please. fetch or bring

• I really want to get some new jeans soon. buy

• I have to 'get' my talk 'ready' for Saturday's chat. prepare (get ....ready)

• Try to get the best table for us. obtain/acquire

• I get very cross when William doesn't turn out his light. become

• They 'got there' faster because they used the car. arrived earlier or travelled faster

• Did you get my email? receive

• I think I'm getting a cold. contracting/developing

• He 'got the sack' for stealing from the till. was dismissed

• You'll be able to get him on his mobile if you need him. reach/make contact with

Haha! I hit the wrong button and posted before I'dd added the Audio. ;P - galsally, Dec 20, 2010

Great exercise, Sally. - --Mariana--, Dec 20, 2010

Wonderful exercise, Sally. - Izanoni1, Dec 20, 2010

Answer 1

Thank you, Sally

Bring/give me another knife from the kitchen please.

I really want to buy some new jeans soon.

I have to prepare my talk for Saturday's chat.

Try to reach for the best table for us.

I go mad when William doesn't turn out his light

They arrived there faster because they used the car.

Did you receive my email?

I think I'm catching a cold.

He was fired/was sacked for stealing from the till.

You'll be able to communicate with/find him on his mobile if you need him.

I have said it before, and I shall say it again, Cogu you are very very good. - ray76, Dec 20, 2010

Fantastic Cogu! For me it's only 'reach' the best table that's a little awkward. Let's see what others say. - galsally, Dec 21, 2010

I have your first post in my mailbox, I think it will be nice to post it here too if you don't mind, as soon as it seems everyone has had a try. :) - galsally, Dec 21, 2010

Ok, Galsally! That's so great exercise! I'd change reach for "achieve", but I'm not pretty sure - cogumela, Dec 21, 2010

Or .... maybe' take'? Any phrasal verb ? I'm lost with this sentence. - cogumela, Dec 21, 2010

'Acquire' or 'obtain' are the closest meanings here. although either would sound hideously formal among friends! - galsally, Dec 24, 2010

Answer 2

Hi Sally, this exercise remined me of my elementary school teacher. She always used to tell us "If you don't know which verb is correct, then fill it in with get or have" Of course she was kidding but, it really works..

---

Here is what I think:

Bring me another knife from the kitchen please.

I really want to buy some new jeans soon.

I have to have my talk ready for Saturday's chat.

Try to grab the best table for us.

I go mad when William doesn't turn out his light.

They **arrived there faster because they used the car.

Did you receive my email?

I think I'm catching a cold.

He was fired for stealing from the till. (He got the chop! )

You'll be able to reach him on his mobile if you need him.

Nice Culé, of course - I agree with your teacher, it's truly what happens! 'Grab' for table is good though slangy, to be honest I'm not sure I can think of a substitution that.. - galsally, Dec 21, 2010

..would sound ok spoken! - galsally, Dec 21, 2010

Answer 3

Cogu said:

I'm sorry, I misunderstood!

Here's an example of how you can rewrite these sentences:

1) Get me another knife from the kitchen please.

Bring me another knife from the kitchen, please.

Thank you, Marianne! ;) - cogumela, Dec 21, 2010

Answer 4

I've just added in my 'substitute verb' answers.

Ready for part 2 yet?

Yes please Sally :) I've missed this one :)) - 00b6f46c, Dec 29, 2010

ok lovely, sorry you missed this one. - galsally, Dec 30, 2010

Answer 5

Try to reach for the best table for us.

I go mad when William doesn't turn out his light

They arrived there faster because they used the car.

You might want to change these a little--the others are fine.

Try grab/snag/save/reserve/secure the best table for us.--I'd also usually say "us the best table" rather than "the best table for us."

"snag" is an old colloquial saying and it isn't used everywhere.

I become angry when. . .(go mad means become insane, get mad means become angry)

They travelled/went there faster. . .
They arrived there sooner/earlier. . .

Thank you, Lorenzo. I'm curious for knowing your suggestion. I appreciate a lot all your comments. - cogumela, Dec 21, 2010

I'm curious to know your suggestions. I appreciate your comments a lot. - lorenzo9, Dec 21, 2010

Answer 6

'I get very cross when William doesn't turn out his light'

'very cross'...that's a slightly old fashioned way of putting it. Nowadays, here in Britain, I don't think we use that any more. I haven't seen people use that....I think it's slightly childish....

Perhaps you could stick to: 'I go mad when William doesn't turn out his light' or go with, 'I get angry....' - Seb79, Dec 20, 2010

I don't know....just a suggestion. - Seb79, Dec 20, 2010

I disagree. "I get cross" is heard often. - --Mariana--, Dec 20, 2010

Seb, I'm English through and through, maybe it's a regional thing? Or age? I am 51, so maybe I'm a little 'chapada a la antigua'??? - galsally, Dec 21, 2010

However, I have teenagers and their friends are always around, plus I socialise plenty so I don't think I'm too out of date. - galsally, Dec 21, 2010