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it's time to get 'get'
Why do English speakers say this word all the time? What does it mean? Many things unfortunately! Enjoy our fantastic real life examples and learn how to use 'get'.
1. Have got (Level: A1|)
In everyday English (especially British English 🇬🇧), we use have got to mean have / own / possess.
It’s very common in speaking.
1️⃣ To show possession (things we own)
- I’ve got a car. 🚗 (= I have a car)
- She’s got a new phone. 📱
- They’ve got two children. 👩👧👦
👉 Have got = have. Both mean the same, but have got is more common in spoken English.
2️⃣ To talk about family & relationships
- I’ve got two sisters. 👭
- He’s got a big family. 👨👩👧👦
- We’ve got a lot of friends. 👯
3️⃣ To describe body parts / features
- She’s got blue eyes. 👀
- He’s got short hair. 💇♂️
- I’ve got a headache. 🤕
👉 In this case, have got can describe conditions or states.
4️⃣ Questions with HAVE GOT
- Have you got a pen? ✏️ (= Do you have a pen?)
- Has she got a dog? 🐶
- Have they got any money? 💷
5️⃣ Negatives with HAVE GOT
- I haven’t got a car. 🚗❌ (= I don’t have a car)
- He hasn’t got any brothers. 👦❌
- We haven’t got enough time. ⏰❌
🔹 Difference: have got vs have
Both are correct ✅ but:
- Have got = more common in British English, informal speech.
- Have = used in American English 🇺🇸, and in more formal writing.
Example:
- UK: I’ve got a cold. 🤧
- US: I have a cold. 🤒
Both mean the same!
✅ Tip for beginners:
If you are speaking casually, especially in the UK → use have got.
If you are writing or learning American English → use have.
2. To buy something/to acquire something (Level: B1)
In everyday English, we often use get instead of buy. It sounds more casual and friendly.
🔹 Basic Use
- I need to get some bread from the shop. 🍞
- He got a new car last week. 🚗
- Where did you get that jacket? 👕
Here, get = buy.
🔹 Difference between get and buy
- Buy = more formal / exact word for paying money 💷.
- Get = more common in spoken English 🗣️.
Example:
- Formal: I want to buy some tickets for the concert. 🎟️
- Everyday: I want to get some tickets for the concert. 🎶
Both are correct ✅ — buy just sounds a little more “serious.”
🔹 With Food & Drinks 🍔☕
- Let’s get a pizza tonight. 🍕
- Can you get me a coffee? ☕
- We got fish and chips for lunch. 🐟🍟
(In cafés, bars, restaurants, people almost always say get instead of buy.)
🔹 “Get” for Gifts 🎁
- I got her some flowers for her birthday. 🌸
- What did you get for Christmas? 🎄
- He got me a book. 📖
Here, get means buy or give as a present.
🔹 “Get” + Object for Someone Else 🙋♂️
- Can you get me a bottle of water? 💧
- I’ll get you some snacks from the shop. 🍫
- I got him an Apple Watch for his birthday. ⌚️
This means buy for someone else.
✅ Tip for learners:
If you’re speaking with friends, family, or in everyday situations, you’ll almost always hear get instead of buy.
Save buy for shops, business, or more formal contexts.
3. To understand (Level: B1+)
In everyday English, we often use get to mean “understand”. It’s informal and very common in conversation.
🔹 Basic Use
- Do you get it? = Do you understand it? 🤔
- I don’t get the joke. = I don’t understand why it’s funny. 😂
🔹 With “what” / “how” / “why”
We can use get with question words to show understanding of details:
- I don’t get what you mean. ❓
- Do you get how this machine works? ⚙️
- I don’t get why she’s upset. 😕
🔹 Difference from “understand”
- Understand = a bit more formal, good for school, work, or writing. ✍️
- Get = more casual, used in everyday conversations. 🗣️
Example: - Teacher: Do you understand the exercise?
- Friend: Do you get it?
🔹 “Get” + Idea/Point/Joke
- I don’t get your point. = I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. 💬
- Did you get the joke? = Did you understand the humour? 😂
🔹 Past Tense
- Suddenly I got it! = I understood at that moment. 💡
- At first it was confusing, but then I got what he was saying. 🎧
✅ Tip for learners:
If you want to sound natural and conversational, use get.
If you want to sound formal or serious, use understand.
4. To answer the phone or the door (Level: B2)
We also use get when talking about answering or responding to something like a phone call, a knock on the door, or even a message.
Here, get = go and deal with it / respond.
🔹 Phone
- Can you get the phone? It’s ringing. 📞
- I’ll get it! (= I will answer the phone). ☎️
- Sorry, I didn’t get your call earlier. (= I didn’t answer / missed it).
🔹 Door
- Someone’s knocking — can you get the door? 🚪
- I’ll get it! (= I’ll go and open the door). 👋
- Did you get the delivery this morning? 📦
🔹 Difference in Meaning
- Answer the phone/door = more formal, exact.
- Get the phone/door = more natural in everyday English.
Example:
- Mum: “The phone’s ringing!”
- Child: “I’ll get it!” ✅ (much more common than “I’ll answer it.”)
🔹 Related Expressions
- Get back to someone = reply later.
→ Sorry I missed your call. I’ll get back to you soon. 📲 - Get hold of someone = manage to contact.
→ I couldn’t get hold of her all day. 😕
✅ Tip for learners:
When you hear the phone or a knock at the door, native speakers don’t usually say answer it — they say “I’ll get it.”
5. To obtain or receive something (Level: B2)
We often use get when we receive something (someone gives it to us) or when we obtain something (we manage to have it, not always by buying), or informally when we become unwell.
🔹 Basic “Receive”
- I got a new phone yesterday. 📱 (= someone gave it to me / I received it)
- She got a present for her birthday. 🎁
- Did you get my email? 📧 (= did you receive it?)
Here, get = receive.
🔹 Difference from “Receive”
- Receive = more formal, often in business, letters, or official English. 🏢
- Get = everyday conversation, casual, more natural. 🗣️
Example:
- Formal: I received your application. 📄
- Informal: I got your message. 💬
🔹 With Communication (messages, calls, emails)
- Did you get my text? 📱
- I didn’t get your call. 📞 (= I missed it)
- He never gets any letters. ✉️
🔹 With Emotions / Reactions
Sometimes “get” = receive or experience something non-physical.
- I got a shock when I saw the bill. 😱
- She got a lot of support from her friends. 🤗
- He got some bad news. 😔
🔹 “Obtain” (manage to have)
Here get = obtain (not necessarily by paying money).
- I finally got tickets to the concert. 🎶
- She got permission to leave early. ✅
- He got the job he wanted. 💼
🤒 GET = CATCH (Illness)
We use get when talking about becoming sick or catching an illness.
🔹 Examples
- She got the flu last winter. 🤧
- I often get a headache after work. 😣
- He got food poisoning on holiday. 🤢
- Don’t go out without a coat, you’ll get a cold. 🧥❄️
👉 Here, get = become sick / catch.
It’s much more common in everyday English than catch.
🔹 Phrases with Illness
- Get better → She’s ill but starting to get better. 😊
- Get worse → His cough is getting worse. 😷
- Get well soon → Common phrase when wishing someone recovery. 💐
🧾 Tip for learners
- For illness, use get to sound natural (I got a cold, not “I became ill with a cold”).
- For transport, use get in everyday conversation (I get the bus, not “I take the bus”).
🔹 Idioms with “Get” (Receive)
- Get the chance → I hope I get the chance to travel this year. 🌍
- Get an award → She got an award for her painting. 🏆
- Get attention → The child was crying to get attention. 👶
6. To talk about arriving at a place or travelling on public transport (Level: B2)
We often use get in everyday English to mean arrive at a place.
It is more common and natural than saying arrive in conversation.
🔹 Basic Use
- What time did you get home? 🏠
- We got to the airport at 6pm. ✈️
- How do you get to school every day? 🏫
Here, get = arrive.
🔹 Difference between get and arrive
- Arrive = more formal, used in official speech, writing, timetables. 🕰️
- Get = everyday conversation, casual, much more common. 🗣️
Example:
- Formal: The train arrives at 9.30. 🚆
- Informal: What time do you get there? ⏰
🔹 Common Phrases
- Get home → I usually get home at 7pm. 🏠
- Get there → We need to get there before 9. ⏳
- Get here → When did you get here? 👋
- Get back → She got back late last night. 🌙
- Get in → What time did your flight get in? ✈️
- Get out → Let’s get out of the car. 🚗
🔹 With Transport
- I got on the bus at 8am. 🚌
- We got off the train at the wrong station. 🚉
- He got into the taxi quickly. 🚕
- She got out of the car and ran inside. 🚗
🔹 With Directions / Routes
We also use get when talking about how to reach places:
- How can I get to the museum from here? 🏛️
- What’s the best way to get to the park? 🌳
- Did you get to the hotel easily? 🏨
🔹 Past & Future Examples
- Past: We got there just in time. ⏱️
- Past: He got home late because of traffic. 🚦
- Future: What time will you get there tomorrow? 📅
- Future: I’ll get back around midnight. 🌙
✅ Tip for learners:
If you are speaking formally (business, timetables, announcements) → use arrive.
If you are speaking informally (with friends, everyday conversation) → use get.
7. To talk about collecting someone or something / To talk about taking something/something to a place (Level: B2)
We often use get to mean collect or pick up a person or object.
Here, get = go somewhere and bring them/it back.
🔹 Examples
- I’ll get the kids from school at 3pm. 🏫👩👧👦
- Can you get the shopping from the car? 🛍️
- She went to get her coat from the other room. 🧥
- I need to get my passport from the drawer. 🛂
👉 Compare:
- Collect = more formal.
- Get = more casual, everyday English.
🏞️ GET = TAKE (someone or something) TO A PLACE
We also use get when talking about taking something or someone to a place.
Here, get = move/transport.
🔹 Examples
- I need to get these letters to the post office. 📮
- Can you get the kids to school on time? 🏫
- We must get the dog to the vet. 🐶👩⚕️
- How are you going to get the furniture upstairs? 🛋️
🔹 Extra Phrases
- Get someone to (a place) → “I’ll get you to the station on time.” 🚉
- Get something back → “Did you get your book back from Sarah?” 📖
- Get something for someone → “I’ll get some water for you.” 💧
✅ Tip for learners:
- If you are talking about going to bring someone/something → use get (pick up).
- If you are talking about taking/transporting someone/something → use get (take to a place).
8. To prepare yourself or others for something / To prepare a meal (Level: B2)
We also use get when preparing or serving food, especially in casual conversation.
🔹 Examples
- I’ll get dinner ready. 🍽️
- What can I get you for lunch? 🥪
- She’s getting breakfast now. 🥞
- Let’s get something to eat. 🍕
👉 Here, get = prepare or serve.
🔹 Related Expressions
- Get ready for → It’s going to rain, so get ready for wet weather. 🌧️
- Get things set up → We need to get things set up before the meeting. 🖥️
- Get the table ready → Can you get the table ready for dinner? 🍴
✅ Tip for learners:
- When talking about yourself → get ready, get dressed.
- When talking about others or food → get something ready, get someone ready, get dinner ready.
9. To exit or leave / To move or remove something (Level: B2)
We use get to mean leave a place, situation, or position.
🔹 Common Phrases
- Get out (of) → leave a car, room, or building
→ She got out of the taxi quickly. 🚕
→ Get out! It’s not safe in there. ⚠️ - Get off → leave a bus, train, plane
→ We got off the bus at the wrong stop. 🚌
→ What time do we get off the plane? ✈️ - Get away → escape or go on holiday
→ The thief got away. 🏃♂️
→ We’re hoping to get away this weekend. 🏖️
📦 GET = MOVE / REMOVE SOMETHING
We also use get to mean take something away or remove it.
🔹 Examples
- Can you get that box out of the way? 📦
- I need to get these papers off the desk. 🗂️
- She tried to get the stain out of her shirt. 👕
- Let’s get the rubbish out before it smells. 🗑️
🔹 Everyday Expressions
- Get rid of → remove completely
→ I need to get rid of these old clothes. 👚
→ How can I get rid of this headache? 🤕 - Get something off (your chest) → talk about something that worries you
→ I feel better now I’ve got that off my chest. 💬
✅ Tip for learners:
- If you are leaving yourself → use get out / get off / get away.
- If you are removing something → use get out (something), get rid of, get off.
10. Instead of verb BE in passive sentences to add emphasis (Level: B2)
We use get with a past participle to talk about actions that happen to us, often done by someone else, or events that happen in a passive way.
🔹 1. Have something done (services, arrangements)
Here get = arrange for someone else to do something for you.
- I got my hair cut yesterday. 💇♀️ (= someone cut it for me)
- She got her nails done at the salon. 💅
- We need to get the car fixed. 🚗🔧
- He got his house painted last summer. 🎨
👉 Compare:
- I cut my hair ✂️ = I did it myself.
- I got my hair cut 💇♀️ = Someone else did it for me.
🔹 2. Passive Meaning (something happens to you)
We also use get + past participle to show things that happen (often unexpectedly).
- He got promoted at work. 💼 (= was promoted)
- Their house got robbed last night. 🏠💔
- She got chosen for the team. 🏀
- I got stuck in traffic. 🚦
👉 Here get = be, but more natural in everyday English.
(be promoted → got promoted, be robbed → got robbed)
🔹 3. Informal Spoken Passive
In conversation, get is often used instead of be in the passive voice because it sounds more lively and natural.
- Formal: The window was broken yesterday.
- Informal: The window got broken yesterday. 🪟💥
- Formal: He was arrested by the police.
- Informal: He got arrested by the police. 🚓
🔹 4. Negative / Questions
- Did you get invited to the party? 🎉
- I didn’t get paid last week. 💷
- She never gets noticed at work. 👩💻
🔹 5. Idiomatic Uses
- Get married 💍 → They got married last year.
- Get divorced 💔 → She got divorced in 2018.
- Get dressed 👕 → Hurry up and get dressed!
- Get lost 🧭 → We got lost in the forest.
(These look like "have something done," but they’re fixed phrases learners will hear a lot.)
✅ Tip for learners:
- Use get + past participle when something happens to you or is done for you.
- It often replaces be + past participle in casual English.
- If you arrange for a service (haircut, car repair, house cleaned) → get something done is the natural phrase.
11. To 'get used to' (Level: B2)
🔄 GET USED TO = BECOME FAMILIAR WITH SOMETHING
When we say get used to, we mean that something feels strange or difficult at first, but over time it becomes normal or comfortable.
It describes the process of becoming familiar.
🔹 Structure
get used to + noun / -ing form (verb+ing)
- noun → I’m getting used to my new job. 💼
- verb-ing → She got used to waking up early. ⏰
🔹 Examples
- Moving to a new country is hard, but you get used to the culture. 🌍
- I can’t get used to driving on the left. 🚗
- Don’t worry, you’ll soon get used to your new glasses. 👓
- He finally got used to the cold weather. ❄️
🔹 Tense Examples
- Present: I’m getting used to my new phone. 📱
- Past: She got used to her noisy neighbours. 🏘️
- Future: You’ll get used to working nights. 🌙
🔹 Difference: get used to / be used to / used to
- Get used to = the process of becoming familiar
→ I’m getting used to my new schedule. - Be used to = already familiar / comfortable
→ I’m used to waking up early. - Used to + verb = something you did in the past but not now
→ I used to go swimming every day. 🏊
⚠️ This difference is often confusing for learners!
✅ Tip for learners:
Think of it like this:
- Get used to = the journey (changing from strange → normal).
- Be used to = the result (now it feels normal).
- Used to (do) = the past habit.
12. When a person/thing changes state or condition or becomes different (Level: B2)
We often use get to describe when something changes condition, mood, or situation.
Think of get as the “bridge” between how something is now and how it is becoming.
🔹 Basic Examples
- It’s getting dark outside. 🌙 (The light is changing → day → night)
- She got angry when she heard the news. 😡 (Her mood changed → calm → angry)
- I’m getting tired. 😴 (My state is changing → awake → tired)
🔹 With Adjectives (Feelings / Conditions)
We usually use get + adjective to describe changes in feelings or physical conditions:
- Get hungry → I always get hungry in the afternoon. 🍔
- Get cold → Take a coat, it might get cold tonight. 🧥
- Get better → She’s ill, but she’s getting better now. 🤒➡️😊
- Get worse → His cough is getting worse. 😷
- Get ready → Hurry up and get ready for school! 🎒
🔹 With Comparatives
We also use get + comparative adjectives to show gradual change:
- The days are getting longer. 🌞
- My English is getting better. 📖
- Prices are getting higher every year. 💷
(Compare: “become” sounds more formal → “Prices are becoming higher.”)
🔹 Past Tense (Sudden Change)
- I suddenly got scared when I heard the noise. 😨
- He got sick after eating bad food. 🤢
- They got married last summer. 💍
🔹 Idiomatic Expressions with “Get” + Adjective
- Get dressed 👕 = put on clothes → Please get dressed quickly.
- Get lost 🧭 = lose your way → We got lost in the city.
- Get used to 👍 = become comfortable with something → I’m getting used to my new job.
✅ Tip for learners:
Whenever you want to describe a change (not a permanent state), try get + adjective.
If you want to sound more formal (especially in writing), you can use become.
13. To make/persuade someone to do something (C1)
We use get + person + to + verb to show that we make or persuade someone to do something.
It can mean:
- Convince them 💬
- Ask them politely 🙏
- Arrange for them to do it 📅
- Or even force them 💪
🔹 Structure
get + person + to + base verb
🔹 Everyday Examples
- I’ll get John to help us with the boxes. 📦 (= ask him)
- Can you get the children to tidy their room? 🧸 (= persuade them)
- She got her brother to drive her to the airport. ✈️
- How can I get him to listen to me? 👂
🔹 Formal / Informal Difference
- Make = stronger, more forceful.
- Get = softer, more natural in conversation.
Example:
- Teacher: I made the students finish their homework. 📚 (strict, no choice)
- Parent: I finally got my son to do his homework. ✍️ (persuaded/encouraged)
🔹 Past & Future
- Past: I finally got her to join the gym. 🏋️♀️
- Past: We got them to agree to the plan. ✅
- Future: I’ll try to get him to call you tomorrow. 📱
🔹 Idiomatic Uses
- Get someone to do something → persuade
→ I can’t get him to clean his room. 😅 - Get someone talking/laughing/smiling → make them start doing it
→ He always gets me laughing. 😂 - Get someone interested → make them want to know more
→ The teacher really got us interested in science. 🔬
✅ Tip for learners:
If you want to sound softer than “make,” use get.
It shows influence or persuasion, not strict force.
14. Phrasal verbs
There are many phrasal verbs with 'get': On its own, get has some main meanings (receive, become, arrive, etc.).
But when you add a small word after it (like up, out, on, off, over), the meaning can completely change.
These are called phrasal verbs.
Think of them like “mini-phrases” that you have to learn as a whole.
🌞 Daily life
- Get up = leave your bed 🛏️ → I get up at 7am.
- Get back = return 🏠 → We got back home late.
- Get in = arrive 🚗✈️ → What time did you get in last night?
👭 Relationships
- Get on (with someone) = have a good relationship 👭 → I get on with my neighbours.
- Get together = meet socially 🍽️ → Let’s get together for dinner.
- Get along = be friendly 🤝 → Do you get along with your boss?
🏃 Movement / Escape
- Get away = escape 🏃♂️ → The thief got away.
- Get out (of) = leave 🚪 → She got out of the car.
- Get off = leave transport 🚌🚆 → We got off the bus at the station.
💪 Challenges & Recovery
- Get over = recover from illness or difficulty 💪 → She got over her cold quickly.
- Get through = succeed in finishing / survive 📞/😮💨
→ I can’t get through this book, it’s too long.
→ We finally got through the exam. - Get by = survive with little (money/time/skills) 💷
→ I don’t earn much, but I get by.
📞 Communication
- Get through (to someone) = contact / make them understand 📞
→ I finally got through to her on the phone.
→ Teachers try to get through to their students. - Get back to someone = reply later 🔄
→ I’ll get back to you tomorrow.
😅 Miscellaneous
- Get rid of = remove something 🗑️ → I need to get rid of these old shoes.
- Get on with (something) = continue doing 📚 → Stop talking and get on with your homework.
- Get ahead = make progress in life/work 📈 → She works hard to get ahead in her career.
- Get into = become interested in / enter a place 🎶
→ He’s really getting into jazz music.
→ She got into the university she wanted. 🎓
✅ Tip for learners:
Don’t try to translate phrasal verbs word by word.
Instead, learn them as a whole unit (like new vocabulary).
