Search
Close this search box.

get

get

get / got/ gotten / getting

The verb “get” is one of the most confusing verbs in English. It has many different meanings and grammatical applications. This video will help get you started in discovering its mysterious meanings.  

examples for the verb "get."

  • This is not easy to get. (get = understand) 
  • I got a big fish last weekend. (get = hunt + catch)
  • What did you get for your birthday? (get = receive as a gift) 
  • What did you get for lunch? (get = order and receive food) 
  • Sam got his hair cut by a barber. (“get” as a causative verb)   
  • Sophia gets paid on Friday. (“get” as used in the passive voice)
  • How do you get to work every day? (get = travel)  
  • We’re just barely getting by this month. (get by = pay for daily expenses)

The verb “get” is found in many different phrasal verbs. Each phrasal verb may have multiple meanings. This next video shows how the phrasal verb “get by” is used. 

get back = return

  • When do they get back from vacation? (When do they return?) 
  • I’ll get back to you later. (I’ll return your call or inquiry later.)
  • Tim is trying to get back together with his ex-girlfriend. (get back together = restart a previous relationship) 
  • Let’s get back to basics. (Let’s return to the fundamentals of the subject.) 
  • Has he gotten back to you? (Has he returned your call, or your email, or a question asked in person?) 

This video demonstrates how to use “get back.” 

get through = pass; finish; communicate

  • We can’t get our couch though the doorway. It’s too big. 
  • It’s hard to get through to Bill because his cell phone service is terrible. 
  • What time do you get through at work tonight? 

This video demonstrates how to use “get through.” 

  • The Verb “Get”

 

Directions: Use the verb “get” in the following sentences and questions. Pay attention to helping verbs and the various forms that this verb takes. 

  •  

  • 1. I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a new phone because mine is not working. (past tense) 

2. Let’s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ some groceries on the way home. (simple form) 

3. She always manages _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ good grades in her exams. (infinitive) 

4. _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _  _ you _ _ _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _me a cup of coffee, please? (use “can”)

5. This issue _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a lot of attention lately. (present perfect tense) 

6._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ up early is hard for some people. (gerund) 

7. I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ enough sleep. (present continuous–negative) 

8. He _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ so tall in the last year. (present perfect tense) 

9. We should _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ if we want to be on time. (use “get” + “go”) 

10. What _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ you _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ for lunch? (present continuous).

11. They _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ together next week. (future) 

12. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ out of here! (command) 

13. Maria _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to visit Europe at least once a year. (present tense) 

14. Please, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ angry at him. (command–negative) 

15. Ahmed _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the package he was expecting. (past tense–negative) 

16. We _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ enough rain. (present continuous–negative) 

17. I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  some milk at the store. (use “have to”) 

18. We _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a second opinion before making a decision. (use “should”)

19. The project _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on time. (use “do” as the main verb, future passive) 

 

20. May I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ you? (use “get by”)

 

Download the PDF for this exercise: “get” 

Return to the Irregular Verbs page.