If you look up the word get in the dictionary you will see that it has many, many different

meanings in English. It always has the same pronunciation, so the only way to know the
meaning is from the context. You need to learn the various meanings of get, so that you can
guess the correct meaning based on the context.

Here are some of the more common meanings of get:

1 To get + direct object = to obtain OR to receive OR to buy

I got my passport last week. (to obtain)

She got her driving license last week. (to obtain)
They got permission to live in Switzerland. (to obtain)
I got a letter from my friend in Nigeria. (to receive)
He gets $1,000 a year from his father. (to receive)
She got a new coat from Zappaloni in Rome. (to buy)
We got a new television for the sitting room. (to buy)

2 To get + place expression = to arrive at a place

How are you getting home tonight?

We got to London around 6 p.m.
What time will we get there?
When did you get back from New York?

3 To get + adjective = to become (to change state)

I am getting old.
It's getting hotter.
By the time they reached the house they were getting hungry.
I'm getting tired of all this nonsense.
My mother's getting old and needs looking after.
It gets dark very early in the winter.
When it gets warmer Ill go swimming in the lake.
There are also many phrasal verbs containing the word get.
Here are some of the more common ones:
to get + Meaning
to get at to try to express
to escape punishment for
to get away with
a crime or bad action
to get by to cope/manage (financially)
to get down to depress, to descend
to leave a form of transport
to get off
(train, bus, bicycle, plane)
1. to enter/sit on a form of
transport
to get on (train, bus, bicycle, plane)
2. to have a good
rapport/relationship with someone
1. to proceed
to get on with 2. to have a good
rapport/relationship with someone
Example
I think I see what you're getting at.
I agree.
I can't believe you got away with
cheating on that test!
We dont earn much,
but we get by.
This rain is really getting me down.
We got off the train just before the
bomb exploded.
1. He got on his bicycle and
rode down the street.
2. Amy and I get on.
1. I have so much homework, I'd
better get on with it.
2. The students get on with their
teacher.
to get + Meaning Example

She got out of the washing-up

to avoid doing something,
to get out of every day, even when it was her
especially a duty
turn to do it.
Have you gotten over your cold
to get over to recover (from an illness, a surprise)
yet?
We've got through all the sugar.
to get through to use or finish all of something
Can you buy some more?
He gets up at 6.00 a.m. every
to get up to leave your bed
morning.
The children are very quiet. I
to get up to to do - usually something bad
wonder what they're getting up to.
There are also some useful phrases used in everyday conversation which contain get.

These include:

1 To get (something) = to understand (something)

Do you get it?

= Do you understand it?

I dont get why the council wants to close the hospital.

= I dont understand why the council wants to close the hospital.

2 To get rid of something = to throw something away

I'm going to get rid of all these old newspapers.

= Im going to throw all of these old newspapers away

You should get rid of those old clothes, you never wear them.
= You should throw those old clothes away, you never wear them.