Verbs - Expressions with 'Get'

Expressions with 'get' are common phrasal verbs and idioms used in everyday and business English. They combine 'get' with particles or prepositions (get + up, get + along with, get + rid of) to create meanings that often cannot be guessed from the word 'get' alone. Learning these expressions improves your fluency and helps you understand native speakers in meetings, emails, and conversations.

• Many 'get' expressions are phrasal verbs or idioms with specific meanings.
• Their meaning can be literal or idiomatic — context is important.
• Some are separable (you can put the object between the verb and particle), others are not.

Focus on collocations and the typical contexts where each expression is used (professional vs. casual).

Most 'get' expressions are phrasal verbs or idioms; identify the particle or preposition that follows 'get' to understand the meaning.

• get + particle/preposition = a unique meaning (not always literal).
• Some are separable: you can place the object between verb and particle (e.g., 'get the report out' → 'get out the report').
• Some are inseparable: the particle must stay with the verb (e.g., 'get used to' — don't split 'used to').
• Tense and aspect affect meaning: 'get over' (recover) vs 'got over' (recovered).

When in doubt, learn the expression as a whole chunk and study example sentences.

Learners often misapply the particle or misunderstand idiomatic meanings. Watch for these universal errors:

• Confusing literal and idiomatic meaning — e.g., thinking 'get rid of' means 'to become rid' rather than 'to remove'.
• Using the wrong preposition or particle — small words change the meaning (get ahead ≠ get by).
• Splitting inseparable phrasal verbs incorrectly — some cannot take an object between verb and particle.
• Incorrect tense or aspect — phrasal verbs follow normal tense rules and meaning can change with tense.

Learn each expression with example sentences and practice using them in context.