Languages › English as a Second Language How to Use the Verb "Get" in English: Quiz and Tips Juice Images/Getty Images English as a Second Language Vocabulary Basic Conversations for English Language Learners Pronunciation & Conversation Writing Skills Reading Comprehension Grammar Business English Resources for Teachers By Kenneth Beare Kenneth Beare English as a Second Language (ESL) Expert TESOL Diploma, Trinity College London M.A., Music Performance, Cologne University of Music B.A., Vocal Performance, Eastman School of Music Kenneth Beare is an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and course developer with over three decades of teaching experience. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on January 17, 2020 The verb get is one of the most common in English. Get is used as a stand alone verb with various meanings. However, get also combines with a variety of prepositions to form phrasal verbs with a wide range of meanings.Here is a list of uses for get as a main verb, get in phrasal verbs, get in idiomatic usage, and the present perfect form of have got to indicate possession.Get AlonearriveShe got to work an hour late.receiveI got a book for my birthday.earnI get $7 an hour.bring or fetchCan you get that book for me?understandDo you get the lesson?affected by, or catchHe got a cold last week.catch or takeI got the 4:55 train to New York.communicate withI got him by phone.have a strong effect onThat film really got me.capture or seizeThe police got him at the station.Get in Phrasal VerbsI have chosen the main meanings to help you begin to learn phrasal verbs with get. However, these are not all meanings of these common phrasal verbs.get aboutbe socially activeTom really gets about, doesn't he?get atmean somethingI'm trying to get at the truth.get aheadbe successfulIt's very difficult to get ahead nowadays.get awayescapeThe thief got away from the police.get backrecover or retrieveI got my books back from Tom.get byTo survive financiallySally gets by on just $1,000 a month.get inenter a car, train etc.Come on, get in! Let's go.get intobe acceptedHe got into the university of his choice.get offexit from a train, bus etc.Jerry got off at 52nd Street.get on withhave a good relationship withI really get on well with Janet.get outleaveI got out of class at 3.30.get overrecover from an illness or bad occurrenceHe got over his operation very quickly.get throughsucceed in an examination, test etc.That was a difficult test to get through, wasn't it?get upget out of bedI got up at 7 this morning.Get Idiomatic UsageGet is often used in an idiomatic manner. Here are some of get in various popular idioms.get to itbegin doing somethingLet's get to it! It's late.gottahave toI gotta go it's late (note: not used in written English)have got tohave toI've got to hurry up!get down to businessbegin workingTom arrived at 12 and immediately got down to business.get togethermeetLet's get together this weekend.get it togetherget somethingimprove one's performanceunderstandCome on! Get it together, you are playing horrible tennis.Do you get what he means?Get for PossessionGet is also used to indicate possession in the present perfect use of have got. This form can indicate that someone has an object, a friend or relative, or even a situation.I've got two children.Sheila has got an appointment at three o'clock.Have you got a TV in your kitchen?Have got is used in both American and British English though it is more common in British English. Remember that the past participle form of get is gotten in American English, but, in British English, remains got. Despite this usage, Americans also use have got to indicate possession only. In other cases, the past participle gotten is used.For possession:He's got a beautiful smile.They've got friends in Dallas.Other forms of get in American English:I haven't gotten through much of the work today. (get through as phrasal verb)Andreas has gotten to work late every day this week. (get = arrive)Quiz: Do You Get It?Check your understanding of these various uses of get by selecting the synonym closest in meaning to the original: 1. They got him by hacking into his smart phone. "Got him" means... caught found either Correct Wrong 2. How many children have you got? "Have you got" can be replaced with... do you have are there do you want Correct Wrong 3. I think it's time for us to get out of the shipping business. "Get out" means... receive leave meet Correct Wrong 4. I'm afraid I don't get the problem at all. "I don't get" means... I don't have I don't want I don't understand Correct Wrong 5. What are you trying to get at? "Get at" means... have say tell Correct Wrong 6. My son got into Harvard last month. "Got into" means... saw was socially active at was accepted to Correct Wrong 7. Let's get together soon! "Get together" means see each other do something either is right Correct Wrong 8. They have to get serious about their work. "Get serious" means they... must work harder must stop smiling at the office must get to work early Correct Wrong 9. Could you get the paper for me? "Get" means... leave exit pick up Correct Wrong 10. How long did it take you to get over the flu? "To get over" means... be accepted recover from turn Correct Wrong How to Use the Verb "Get" in English: Quiz and Tips You got: % Correct. Share Your Results How to Use the Verb "Get" in English: Quiz and Tips You got: % Correct. Share Your Results