reach a point vs get to the point

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi!

  • Choose:
    I get so tired at work that I … a point when I can’t concentrate anymore.

a) reach b) get

2

Hi,

This would be: ‘Reach a point’ or ‘get to a point’.

Alan

3

I disagree with you Alan due to the fact that " reach a point " as supposed to be the correct answer in here is different from “get to the point” . the latter one is to talk about something important. I just want to know what the meaning of “reach a point” is in this context.

4

Hi Sultano,

How do you define “something important”? If your job is important to you, why wouldn’t getting to a point when you can’t concentrate anymore important? Also, who told you that the collocation “get to a point” is used to talk about something important? You can reach a point or get to a point as Alan explained. Since the preposition ‘to’ is missing in your question, only ‘reach’ works. Otherwise ‘get to’ would be as valid.[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, photographs: Working in a muddy field[YSaerTTEW443543]

5

Alan is right, and you are wrong.

“We reached the station,” is the same thing as, “We got to the station.”

“I reach the point where I can’t concentrate anymore,” is the same thing as, “I get to the point where I can’t concentrate anymore.”

Alan’s knowledge is superior to both your knowledge, and to the choices found in a multiple-choice exercise book.

And notice, as Torsten pointed out, that Alan used the expression “get to”, not just the word “get”.

6

You are all right and I’m wrong. Ok ! I do appreciate your efforts and your replies. I got the worng end of the stick when I said that “get to a point” means to talk about something important. I should have said " get to the point" means to come to the most part of the matter . In this context doesn’t mean that - here is another meaning. and the multiple choice is as in the excercise:

" I get so tired at work that I … a point when I can’t concentrate anymore."
a) reach
b) get
c) make
d) attain
and when I intended to ask I wanted to know the meaining of this sentence in a simple way - Is the relative pronoun " when" in the context right or should it be replaced with “where”?
Anyway Could you explain this sentence as it seems ambiguous to me.

As jamie add:

“We reached the station,” is the same thing as, “We got to the station.” This is clear.

I should have said " get to the point" which means to come to the important part of the matter.

7

Alan is correct. Both “reach a point” and “get to the point” can be used to express the same meaning.

8

I wonder why some people go off at a tangent.

9

For example? Are you referring to Torsten?

10

Any way! Could you answer me, Molly?

" I get so tired at work that I reach a point when I can’t concentrate anymore."

Could you explain this sentence as it seems ambiguous to me. thankx thanks

11

How do you see this as ambiguous? It means: There comes a point in time at work when I become so tired that I cannot concentrate.

I would not use “where” instead of “when” (as you asked above) because you’re referring to a point in time, not a location at work.

I suppose if your job was to hand carry a heavy object for 12 miles and every day, around mile marker 10, you get so tired you can’t continue, then that would be a time to use “where” instead of “when” in the sentence, but it’s a pretty unlikely situation.

12

“Where” is also fine there. It’s a point/place on the scale of stamina/exhaustion/concentartion, etc.