The different uses of "get"
A reader asked about all of the different ways that "get" is used in English. Here are links to dozens of PhraseMix lessons which include the word "get", broken into different categories.
I'm sure I've missed some, so if you think of any other uses of "get" that aren't on these lists, let me know in the comments.
"Get" meaning "receive" or "have"
- “Actually, can I get plastic instead?”
- “Are you getting a refund?”
- “Are you getting any reception?”
- “Don't expect to get a high-paying job right out of school.”
- “Can I get change for a twenty?”
- “It's super important that I get this internship.”
- “Let's get an objective opinion. Tom, what do YOU think?”
- “I got this on sale for only four bucks.”
- “I only got four hours of sleep last night.”
- “I've gotten a lot of positive feedback on it.”
"Get" meaning "become":
- “I can definitely tell you're getting better.”
- “I get distracted so easily!”
- “I want to try to shed a few pounds and get back in shape.”
- “Is your back getting stiff?”
- “It's getting harder and harder to earn a living as a photographer these days.”
- “You should put some stuff on it to keep it from getting infected, don't you think?”
- “Sorry, I got sidetracked.”
- “These ATM fees have gotten to be ridiculous!”
"Get" meaning "go", "come", or "arrive":
- “My wife'll kill me if I don't get home soon.”
- “I wouldn't sign up for a tour unless it was somewhere that's really hard to get around in as a foreigner.”
- “I was talking with this girl at work who just got back from maternity leave.”
- “I went straight to sleep as soon as I got home.”
"Get" meaning "understand":
- “Do you get what I'm trying to get across?”
- “I don't get it.”
- “She was asking something about her travel arrangements, but I didn't quite get what she wanted.”
"Getting something done" for you:
- “Did you get it colored?”
- “I need to go get my prescription filled, so I'll be back in a while.”
- “Where'd you get it done?”
- “When was the last time you got a haircut?”
To "get to" do something:
"Get" used in the passive form, for something bad that happens to someone:
- “I got caught without an umbrella.”
- “I got yelled at for not calling.”
- “I got pulled over on my way home last night.”
Phrasal verbs using "get"
- “All right - let's get to work.”
- “Do you still want to get together?”
- “Don't let their pettiness and negativity get to you.”
- “I don't want to get into it right now.”
- “I probably won't be able to get to that until tomorrow morning.”
- “I should get going.”
- “I think you need to get your priorities straight.”
- “I watched a few episodes, but I couldn't really get into it.”
- “Let me get straight to the point.”
- “My grandpa used to tell me about how he had to get up at the crack of dawn every day to start work on the farm.”
- “Please get back to me by the end of the day.”
- “So far I've just been getting caught up.”
- “The only thing about fish is that it's so hard to get rid of the odor.”
- “What's it going to take to get through to you?”
- “But seriously, it's time you got rid of that thing.”
- “Looks like they finally got around to fixing that light.”
Idioms using "get":
- “OK! Get off my back!”
- “No way! Get out of here!”
- “OK. Let's get down to business.”
- “I'm getting a head start on my Christmas shopping.”
- “Sweetheart, it's 2011. Get with it!”
- “You just need to get out there and talk to people more.”
- “She got tied up at work.”
