- get VERB
getting, got, got
HELP In spoken North American English the past participle gotten /ˈɡɒtn/ /ˈɡɑːtn/ is almost always used.
receive/obtain
1 [transitive, no passive] get something
to receive something
I got a letter from Dave this morning.
What (= What presents) did you get for your birthday?
He gets (= earns) about $40000 a year.
This room gets very little sunshine.
I got a shock when I saw the bill.
I get the impression that he is bored with his job.
2 [transitive, no passive]
to obtain something
get something Where did you get (= buy) that skirt?
Did you manage to get tickets for the concert?
She opened the door wider to get a better look.
Try to get some sleep.
He has just got a new job.
get something for somebody Did you get a present for your mother?
get somebody/yourself something Did you get your mother a present?
Why don’t you get yourself a car?
$100 will get you the basic model.
You can get the basic model for $100.
3 [transitive, no passive] get something (for something)
to obtain or receive an amount of money by selling something
How much did you get for your car?
Get=BRING
bring
4 [transitive]
to go to a place and bring somebody/something back
SYNONYM fetch
get somebody/something Quick—go and get a cloth!
Somebody get a doctor!
I have to go and get my mother from the airport (= collect her).
get something for somebody Get a drink for John.
get somebody/yourself something Get John a drink.
GET MEANS PUNICHMENT
5 [transitive, no passive] get something
to receive something as a punishment
He got ten years (= was sent to prison for ten years) for armed robbery.
GET means BROADCAST
6 [transitive, no passive] get something
to receive broadcasts from a particular television or radio station
We can’t get Channel 5 in our area.
GET means BUY
[transitive, no passive] get something
to buy something, for example a newspaper or magazine, regularly
SYNONYM take
Which newspaper do you get?
Which newspaper do you take?
GET CAN MEAN MARK/GRADE
[transitive, no passive] get something
to achieve or be given a particular mark/grade in an exam
He got a ‘C’ in Chemistry and a ‘B’ in English.
WE CAN USE GET AT AN ILLNESS
[transitive, no passive] get something
to become infected with an illness; to suffer from a pain, etc
I got this cold off (= from) you!
She gets (= often suffers from) really bad headaches.
GET can express a CONTACT WITH SB:
[transitive, no passive] get somebody
to be connected with somebody by telephone
I wanted to speak to the manager but I got his secretary instead.
GET IS USED AS A LINKING VERB
to reach a particular state or condition; to make somebody/something/yourself reach a particular state or condition
- adjective to get angry/bored/hungry/fat
You’ll soon get used to the climate here.
We ought to go; it’s getting late.
to get dressed/undressed (= to put your clothes on/take your clothes off)
They plan to get married in the summer.
She’s upstairs getting ready.
I wouldn’t go there alone; you might get (= be) mugged.= attacked)
My car got (= was) stolen at the weekend.
get somebody/something + adjective
Don’t get your dress dirty!
He got his fingers caught in the door.
She soon got the children ready for school.
[intransitive] get to do something
to reach the point at which you feel, know, are, etc. something
After a time you get to realize that these things don’t matter.
You’ll like her once you get to know her.
His drinking is getting to be a problem.
She’s getting to be an old lady now.
GET MEANS MAKE/PERSUADE SB/STH
make/persuade
[transitive]
to make, persuade, etc. somebody/something to do something
get somebody/something to do something I couldn’t get the car to start this morning.
He got his sister to help him with his homework.
You’ll never get him to understand.
get somebody/something doing something Can you really get that old car going again?
It’s not hard to get him talking—the problem is stopping him! =persuade him talking.)
GET SOMETHING DONE- we express a causitive case
[transitive] get something done
to cause something to happen or be done
I must get my hair cut.
I’ll never get all this work finished.
WITH GET WE CAN EXPRESS TO START
15 [transitive] get doing something
to start doing something
I got talking to her.
We need to get going soon.
After a while, I got to like him
- get to know sy/sg
You’ll get to like it in time
with GET we can express OPPORTUNITY
[intransitive] get to do something (informal)
to have the opportunity to do something
He got to try out all the new software.
It’s not fair—I never get to go first.
with GET we can express the ARRIVE
[intransitive] + adverb/preposition
to arrive at or reach a place or point
We got to San Diego at 7 o’clock.
You got in very late last night.
What time did you get here?
I haven’t got very far with the book I’m reading.
with GET we can express MOVE/TRAVEL
[intransitive, transitive]
to move to or from a particular place or in a particular direction, sometimes with difficulty; to make somebody/something do this
The bridge was destroyed, so we couldn’t get across the river.
She got into bed.
He got down from the ladder.
We didn’t get (= go) to bed until 3 a.m.
Where do we get on the bus?
I’m getting off (= leaving the train) at the next station.
Where have they got to (= where are they)?
We must be getting home; it’s past midnight.
get somebody/something + adverb/preposition
The general had to get his troops across the river.
We couldn’t get the piano through the door.
We’d better call a taxi and get you home.
I can’t get the lid off.
we use get when we take a VEHICLE
[transitive, no passive] get something
to use a bus, taxi, plane, etc
We’re going to be late—let’s get a taxi.
I usually get the bus to work.
get into / on / onto a/the train
get on/into a/the bus/tram
get on/onto a/the plane = board a/the plane
Get a taxi from the station.
Try to get the 9.00 train.
we use GET for PREPARING A MEAL
[transitive] (especially British English)
to prepare a meal
get something = Who’s getting the lunch?
get something for somebody/yourself =I must go home and get tea for the kids.
get somebody/yourself something =I must go home and get the kids their tea.
we use GET when we ANSWER the phone or OPEN the door when sb knocks
21 [transitive] get something (informal)
to answer the telephone or a door when somebody calls, knocks, etc
-Will you get the phone?
-somebody knocked the door will you please to get it.
get express CATCH and HIT
[transitive] get somebody
to catch or take hold of somebody, especially in order to harm or punish them
He was on the run for a week before the police got him. (catch)
to get somebody by the arm/wrist/throat (catch)
She fell overboard=over the side of a boat or ship) and the sharks got her.
He thinks everybody is out to get him (= trying to harm him).
(informal) I’ll get you for that!
We’ll get them yet!
I’ll get you (BEATLES)
youtube.com/watch?v=E2s-sXcven4
I’ll get for this, midler!
youtube.com/watch?v=GgK_NCKrDwc
“I’ll get you for this! You won’t escape my WRATH!”=ANGER)
[transitive] get somebody + adverb/preposition
to hit or wound somebody
The bullet got him in the neck.(hit)