Do you know how many different uses of get there are in English?
This can be a difficult word for English learners because it has so many meanings, but if you can learn to use it well, you can really sound like a native speaker!
The Coffee Break English Show is a podcast series of informal conversations to help you understand some difficult topics in English! In the latest episode, Nick and Anabel will help you use the verb get in lots of different ways. 💪
There are many phrases with get, and if we include phrasal verbs, the list is too long to cover in one episode! But we can look at some synonyms that you can replace with the verb get. 📚
So, let’s get started! Continue reading to find out more, and why not listen to the podcast as you go!
Get = become
We use get with adjectives to mean become.
>> It’s raining, take an umbrella or you will get wet. 💦
We can also use the verb get with comparative adjectives to show change.
>> In November the weather gets colder and the days get shorter. ❄️
Get = catch / take
Another one of the uses of get is to talk about taking transport. It has the same meaning as catch or take with nouns like bus, train and taxi. We can only use it with transport that it is possible to miss. I can’t get a bike to the office, for example.
>> I got a taxi to the airport. 🚖
>> I got the train into town 🚂
Get = buy / obtain / receive
We use the verb get to mean buy, obtain or receive. They have similar meanings but aren’t always the same. This can cause some confusion when we talk about presents! Look at the following sentence:
>> I got a scarf for my birthday (In this sentence, get means receive.) 🎁
>> I got an A in my English exam (In this sentence, get means obtain.) 📝
>> I got my brother a present for his birthday (In this sentence, get means buy.) 💰
Get = understand
We can use the verb get to say that we understand something. This can be a topic or a joke.
>> Everyone laughed at the joke but I didn’t get the punchline. 🤔😂
>> He spoke so quickly I didn’t get what he was saying. 😵💫
Get = arrive
We use the verb get with to to say when we arrive somewhere.
>> I got to the football match late and missed the first goal. ⚽️
Get = fetch
We use the verb get to say ‘go and take’, or fetch.
>> Can you get me that newspaper over there? I want to show you an article. 🗞️
For more information about the different uses of get, why not watch Episode 10 from Season 2 of Coffee Break English? We go into more detail about phrasal verbs with get as well as looking at the different meanings of the verb get.
Here’s a visual of the different uses of get
To help you remember the different meanings of get, we’ve created a worksheet for you so make sure you click on the link below to get some useful practice!
If you found this post interesting, make sure you listen to the full podcast episode with Nick and Anabel on The Coffee Break English Show. And why not subscribe to our podcast feed and our channel on YouTube to find episodes about some other useful topics for English learners?
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So, start adding get into your speech whenever you get a chance! Remember that when you learn new vocabulary, it will help you to express yourself as well as improving your understanding when listening to others. It’s all part of the language-learning journey. Why not get a coffee now and start learning more about this extremely useful verb?
Happy Coffee Breaking!
