Phrasal Verbs to practice

 

All about GET

 

 

 

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 Alone

arrive	She got to work an hour late.
receive	I got a book for my birthday.
earn	I get $7 an hour.
bring or fetch	Can you get that book for me?
understand	Do you get the lesson?
affected by, or catch	He got a cold last week.
catch or take	I got the 4:55 train to New York.
communicate with	I got him by phone.
have a strong effect on	That film really got me.
capture or seize	The police got him at the station.

Get in Phrasal Verbs

I 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 about	be socially active	Tom really gets about, doesn't he?
get at	mean something	I'm trying to get at the truth.
get ahead	be successful	It's very difficult to get ahead nowadays.
get away	escape	The thief got away from the police.
get back	recover or retrieve	I got my books back from Tom.
get by	To survive financially	Sally gets by on just $1,000 a month.
get in	enter a car, train etc.	Come on, get in! Let's go.
get into	be accepted	He got into the university of his choice.
get off	exit from a train, bus etc.	Jerry got off at 52nd Street.
get on with	have a good relationship with	I really get on well with Janet.
get out	leave	I got out of class at 3.30.
get over	recover from an illness or bad occurrence	He got over his operation very quickly.
get through	succeed in an examination, test etc.	That was a difficult test to get through, wasn't it?
get up	get out of bed	I got up at 7 this morning.

Get Idiomatic Usage

Get is often used in an idiomatic manner. Here are some of get in various popular idioms.

get to it	begin doing something	Let's get to it! It's late.
gotta	have to	I gotta go it's late (note: not used in written English)
have got to	have to	I've got to hurry up!
get down to business	begin working	Tom arrived at 12 and immediately got down to business.
get together	meet	Let's get together this weekend.
get it together get something	improve one's performance understand	Come on! Get it together, you are playing horrible tennis. Do you get what he means?

Get for Possession

Get 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)

 

25 Most Common English Verbs

Note that the first 12 verbs are irregular verbs, and that only 8 of the 25 are regular. Note too that the first 3 verbs (be, have and do) function as main verbs and auxiliary verbs. It is also of interest that, in their base form, these 25 most common verbs are all one-syllable words.

1. be
2. have
3. do
4. say
5. get
6. make
7. go
8. know
9. take
10. see
11. come
12. think
13. look
14. want
15. give
16. use
17. find
18. tell
19. ask
20. work
21. seem
22. feel
23. try
24. leave
25. call

Learning through Jokes

 

 

First Joke - Nothing happens ( PLAY ON WORDS )

This joke uses a "play on words" - one word has two meanings. There is a customer who cannot understand a very simple message from somebody who is trying to help him. Enjoy the story!

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A new customer called (1)Tech Support to ask about  (2) instructions from his computer's  (3) user's manual. "It says, hit any  (4) key and when I do that nothing happens'.

The Tech Support  (5) staff member replied, "Can you try again and tell me what happens?"

The customer  (6) explained, "I tried but nothing happened".

The Tech Support worker then asked, "What key did you hit?"

After  (7) a moment and some  (8) clinking sound the customer replied, "Well, first I tried my  (9) car key and just now my  ( 10) office key."

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As we could see on this conversation, the word key is the key to understand the joke.

(1) an office that can help you with machines
(2) how to do something
(3) a book that tells you everything about a machine
(4) a letter or number on a computer "keyboard"
(5) a worker
(6) said why or what, in detail
(7) a very short time
(8) the sound of metal hitting metal
(9) a key used to get into a car
(10) a key used to get into an office

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1. Did you understand the joke?
2.  What is a " tech support "?
3.   Do you usually  read the user's manual before installing an electronic product?
4.   What product the customer bought?
5.   What kind of key was he supposed to hit?
6.   Have you ever installed any product without reading the user's manual?
7. What kind of keys the customer hit ?
8.   What does a clinking sound mean?
9. What do you do when you don't understand the user's manual  instructions?

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Second Joke

This joke uses an expression ("a second opinion") often used when we have a serious health problem. If we are not sure of our doctor's advice, we can get "a second opinion" from another doctor. This is very common when the decision is very important but in this joke, the decision is not so important so the doctor's final answer is quite a surprise. It's a short but funny joke, in my oppinion , of course! And I don't accept a second one!

The doctor said to his patient: 'Your health is getting  worse because you are so overweight. You are really very fat like teacher J.B. and need to lose  at least 20 kilograms.' The patient replied to the doctor: 'I want to get  a second opinion.' 'Okay', the doctor  spoke again, 'you are very  ugly too!'

(1) a sick person who goes to see a doctor (2)  (we say "good - better - best" and "bad - worse - worst) (3) too heavy or too fat (4) the lowest number, maybe he needs to lose MORE than 20 kilos! (5) he wants to go see another doctor (6) past of "speak" (7) not good looking

The doctor is using the the first meaning of "opinion", which is just his personal idea, not the opinion of a professional doctor! .

Let's talk about the joke!

1. Do you use to believe in your doctor's prescription ?
2.  What is your opinion about your English Teacher ?
3.  What does "overweight" mean?
4. How often do you go to the doctor?
5.  My opinion is that you are very intelligent. Would you like to know my " second opinion" ?
6. What is the other way of saying " ugly" ?
7.   According to the joke vocabulary what does " patient " mean?
8. What is the past of the verb " speak" ?
9. A doctor says that you will be fatter than your teacher in just a week. What do you need to do?

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Third Joke -   A good dancer

This joke uses misdirection to make us laugh at the end. Pay attention to understand the joke.

Fabricio took Michele out for dancing. Fabricio  was  having a good time when Michele  suddenly said to him, “You could be a good dancer  except for two things.”   Fabricio eagerly asked, “What are the two things?” Michele  calmly replied, “Your feet!”

(1) He brought her to someplace to have fun (2) having fun (3) very quickly, it was not expected (4) other than, besides those two things (5) peacefully

Explanation: Fabricio was hoping for two ideas from Michele, two pieces of advice that could help him become a good dancer. If only he had different feet, maybe he could be a good dancer. But he cannot get new feet so, in Michele's opinion, he will never be a good dancer. 

General Questions:

  1-  Are you a good dancer?
  2-  What kind of Music do you prefer for dancing?
  3-  What do you do when someone is not a good dancer?
  4- Have you ever stepped on someone's toes?
  5- What does the verb ' take sb out ' mean?
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Fourth Joke - Stepping on Pink Cloud

This kind of joke, about people dying and going to heaven, is common in English. Nobody knows what heaven is really like, so we can make up any story. This is a strange idea of heaven, but with a funny ending. This joke has  lots of new words . For this reason you must pay a special attention on it.

Three men died and went to  (1)heaven. They had a nice time there,  (2)bobbing around on the clouds, but they eventually  (3)got bored of each other and went off  (4)on their own for  (5)a bit. When they joined up again, the first man brought with him an old, ugly and smelly woman, with a horrible,  (6)cackly laugh. The others asked, "What happened?" He replied, "(7)I  stepped on a pink cloud." They  (8)went their separate ways again. The next time they met up, the second man  (9)was accompanied by a  (10)foul,  (11)fearsome woman, who  (12)stank so badly they all  (13)gagged. The others asked, "What happened?" The second man replied, "I stepped on a pink cloud." They went their ways again, and the next time they met up, the third man brought with him a beautiful young woman, so  (14)radiant they all stared. She was like a goddess! The others asked, "What happened?" This time, the woman replied, "I stepped on a pink cloud."

(1) where good people go when they die (2) moving up and down, as in water (3) they became not interested (they "lost" interest) (4) alone, each man by himself (5) for a short time (6) a loud, broken laugh in a high voice (7) walked on (8) went by themselves (9) was with her (10) dirty and smelly (11) big, angry and dangerous/! (12) smelled VERY bad (13) they choked (they could not breathe) (14) very bright, like a star

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General Questions:

1- Do you believe that when somebody dies , he or she goes to some kind of Heaven?
2- Have you ever bobbed around like these three man? Not on the clouds of course!
3- What do you do when you get bored of somebody?
4- To step on a pink cloud is a good or bad thing? Explain your oppinion.
5- When you and Joner met yourselves. Who stepped on a pink cloud?

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Rewrite the sentences by using new terms:

 A- My husband doesn't want  to study with me anymore , so he decided  to study alone for a while.
B- He died and now he is living in a good and peaceful place.
C- I don't like when you laugh loud.
D- JB walked on my toes. It's hurting now.
E- When I saw J.B.'s face in the darkness I got choked.
F- Do you remember that girl who was with me?

Hobbies

  

 

JB: Tell me, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Laura Jones: I enjoy drawing and painting.

JB: You know how to draw and paint?

Laura Jones: Yes, I do.

JB: When did you learn how to do that?

Laura Jones: I learned back in high school.

JB: Oh, so you took an art class?

Laura Jones: Yeah, I loved that class.

JB: I see that you're pretty talented.

Laura Jones: Thank you very much.

JB: I wish I had a talent like that.

Laura Jones: I'm sure you have a talent. It's just hidden.

 

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 JB: What kinds of things do you like to do?

Laura Jones: I've always liked to cook.

JB: I didn't know you knew how to cook.

Laura Jones: I do it once in a while.

JB: How long have you known how to do that?

Laura Jones: I first learned how to do it in a cooking school.

JB: Did you cook anything special for your husband?

Laura Jones: Yes, I did. He loves my lasanha.

JB: You have got to be talented.

Laura Jones: Thanks.

JB: If only I was talented to fry an egg.

Laura Jones: You have a talent. You just don't know what it is yet.

 

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 L: Are there any hobbies you do?

JB: When I have time, I sometimes write poems.

L: Oh, you actually do that?

JB: Every so often, I do.

L: Did you always know how to write poems?

JB: I was taught in high school how to write.

L: You had any inspiration?

JB: Exactly, I love reading good books..

L: Well, it's good that you're so talented.

JB: I appreciate that.

L: Talent is a great thing, I wish I had one.

JB: Everyone has a talent. You just need to find yours.

 

Outfit

  

 

L: You look really nice today.

JB: Thank you. I just got this outfit the other day.

L: Really, where did you get it?

JB: I got it from Feirinha da Concórdia in Brás.

L: It's really nice.

JB: Thanks again. You look nice today, too.

L: Thank you. I just got these shoes today.

JB: Really? What kind of shoes are they?

L: These are called Naiki.

JB: I really like those. How much did they cost?

L: They were about five dollars.

JB: I think I'm going to go buy myself a pair.

 

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L: I absolutely love what you're wearing today.

JB: You do? I just bought this outfit a couple days ago.

L: Seriously, it looks really nice on you. Where did you buy it from?

B: I bought it from Victoria's secret in Mall of America.

L: I really like that outfit.

JB: Thanks. I think you look nice today, too.

L: Thank you. I just bought these new shoes earlier today.

JB: Those are nice. What are they?

L: These are some All Star Converse.

JB: Those are great. How much were they?

L: I got them for forty.

JB: I think I might go to the US and find me my own pair of Chucks.

 

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 L: I think that you look very cute today.

JB: Is that right? This is a brand new outfit.

L: What store did you get it from?

JB: I went to Macy's and picked it out.

L: I love your outfit right now.

JB: Well, I think you look nice today too.

L: Thanks. I found these new shoes earlier at the store.

JB: I think that those are some really nice shoes. What kind are they?

L: These are Nike Roshe

JB: Your shoes look really nice. How much did you get them for?

L: They only cost me about 24 dollars.

JB: I'm going to go get a pair for my wife.

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The good news

 

  

L: Did you hear the good news?

J: No, I haven't.

L: I got a promotion at my job.

J: Did you really?

L: Seriously, I am so excited.

J: Well, congratulations my brother.

L: Thank you.

J: I'm so happy for you.

L: Really?

J: Yes. You really deserved this.

L: You think so?

J: Yes. Good for you.

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 L: Have you heard my good news?

J: You haven't told me anything yet.

L: I got a promotion at work earlier this week.

J: Is that right?

L: It's the truth. I am really happy.

J: Congratulations on your promotion.

L: Thank you very much.

J: I am really excited for you.

L: Are you really?

J: I'm serious. You deserved this promotion.

L: Is that what you really think?

J: Yes, I do.

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 L: I haven't told you what happened yet, have I?

J: I haven't heard anything.

L: My boss offered me a raise, and I took it.

J: Are you serious?

L: Yes, I am really excited.

J: That's great. Congratulations to you.

L: I appreciate that. I'm sure I deserve it!

J: You have no idea how happy I am for you.

L: You can take it for me.

J: I believe that now you are going to buy me a chocolate box.