Jake BorlandCo-Founder
Get is one of the most common verbs in English, and it combines with many prepositions to create phrasal verbs with very different meanings. Here are the ones you need to know.
Get is one of the most versatile verbs in English. On its own, it means to receive or obtain something. But when you combine get with a preposition or adverb, the meaning often changes completely. These get phrasal verbs come up in conversation constantly, so learning them is time well spent.
To get up means to rise from bed or to stand up from a seated position. I usually get up at six-thirty. She got up quickly when her name was called. It is one of the first phrasal verbs most learners encounter.
Get on has several meanings. It can mean to board a vehicle: We got on the metro at Union Station. It can also mean to have a good relationship with someone: I get on well with my colleagues. And it can mean to make progress: How are you getting on with the project?
Get off means to leave a vehicle or to finish work. We get off the bus at the next stop. What time do you get off work? It can also mean to escape punishment: He got off with just a warning.
Get over means to recover from something, whether an illness, a disappointment, or a loss. It took her months to get over the cold. He never really got over losing that match. It can also express surprise: I can't get over how much she has changed.
Get through means to complete or survive something difficult. I don't know how I got through that exam. It also means to make contact with someone: I've been trying to get through to the office all morning.
Get along is very similar to get on and means to have a friendly relationship with someone. Do you get along with your neighbours? It can also mean to manage or cope: How are you getting along without a car?
The best approach to learning phrasal verbs is in context rather than memorising long lists. When you encounter a new phrasal verb, notice the sentence it appears in and try to work out the meaning. Then practise using it in sentences of your own. Over time, the most common ones will become second nature.
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Written by
Jake Borland
Co-Founder
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