Introduction
Phrasal verbs are everywhere in English, and the verb get is one of the most versatile. It combines with different particles—like up, over, along, and through—to create dozens of new meanings. If you want to sound natural and fluent, mastering phrasal verbs with get is a game-changer. In this post, we will break down the most common ones, explain their meanings, and give you plenty of real-life examples.
What Are Phrasal Verbs with Get?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb (like get) and a particle (a preposition or adverb). Together, they create a new meaning that is often different from the original verb. For example, get alone means to receive or obtain, but get over means to recover from something. These verbs are essential for everyday conversations, from talking about relationships (get along) to handling problems (get through).
Rules for Using Phrasal Verbs with Get
- Particles change the meaning completely. For example, get up (rise from bed) is very different from get down (descend or depress). Always learn the particle with the verb.
- Some phrasal verbs are separable, some are not. With separable phrasal verbs, you can put the object between the verb and the particle (e.g., get my point across). With inseparable ones, the object must come after the particle (e.g., get over a cold).
- Use pronouns correctly. If a phrasal verb is separable and you use a pronoun (me, him, it), the pronoun must go between the verb and the particle. For example: I got it across (not got across it).
- Context is key. The same phrasal verb can have multiple meanings. For instance, get through can mean to finish a task or to contact someone by phone. Always check the surrounding words.
- Practice the stress pattern. In natural speech, the particle is often stressed: get over, get along. This helps you sound more fluent.
How to Use Phrasal Verbs with Get: Step-by-Step
Follow these steps to start using these verbs confidently:
- Learn the most common ones first. Focus on 10–15 phrasal verbs that appear frequently, such as get along, get over, get by, and get through.
- Memorize them in context. Don’t just study lists. Read example sentences or create your own. For example, instead of just remembering get over, write: I need to get over my fear of public speaking.
- Practice with a partner or aloud. Use them in conversations. Try to replace simple verbs with phrasal verbs. For instance, say I got up late instead of I woke up late.
- Write short stories. Write a paragraph about your day using at least five phrasal verbs with get. This reinforces meaning and usage.
- Test yourself regularly. Use the exercises below or create flashcards. Review the ones you find tricky, like get across (to communicate) versus get around (to avoid).
Examples in Sentences
Here are 15 common phrasal verbs with get, each shown in a sentence. The phrasal verb is bolded for emphasis.
- Get up: I get up at 7 a.m. every weekday.
- Get along: My sister and I get along very well now.
- Get over: It took her months to get over the breakup.
- Get by: With his small salary, he can barely get by.
- Get through: I finally got through to the customer service line.
- Get across: The teacher tried to get across the importance of grammar.
- Get around: She gets around the city by bicycle.
- Get away: We need to get away for a weekend trip.
- Get into: He got into trouble for arriving late.
- Get out: Please get out of the car carefully.
- Get together: Let’s get together for coffee next week.
- Get back: I’ll get back to you with the answer soon.
- Get off: The children got off the bus at the park.
- Get on: She got on the train just before it departed.
- Get rid of: I need to get rid of these old clothes.
Common Mistakes
Even advanced learners make these errors. Here are five mistakes to avoid, with corrections.
- Mistake 1: ❌ I need to get over it my fear.
✅ I need to get over my fear. (Do not add an extra pronoun; the object comes after the particle.) - Mistake 2: ❌ She got along with him very well. (This is actually correct, but learners often forget the preposition. Always include with for people.)
✅ She got along with him very well. (Correct as is.) - Mistake 3: ❌ Can you get across it to me?
✅ Can you get it across to me? (With separable phrasal verbs, pronouns go between the verb and particle.) - Mistake 4: ❌ I got up early and got out the house.
✅ I got up early and got out of the house. (For get out, you need the preposition of when followed by a location.) - Mistake 5: ❌ He got by on his savings last month. (This is correct, but learners sometimes confuse it with get over. Remember: get by = survive financially; get over = recover.)
Quick Summary
- Phrasal verbs with get combine the verb with a particle to create new meanings.
- Common ones include get along (have a good relationship), get over (recover), get by (manage), and get through (finish or contact).
- Some phrasal verbs are separable (e.g., get something across), and pronouns must go between the verb and particle.
- Always learn the particle and the context together to avoid confusion.
- Practice aloud and in writing to build fluency.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct phrasal verb using get. Use the particle (up, over, along, etc.) from the list below. Each answer is provided after the exercise.
Particles to choose from: up, over, along, by, through, across, away, into, off, rid of
- After the accident, it took him a long time to _______ his fear of driving.
- I don’t earn much, but I can _______ on a tight budget.
- She always _______ her ideas clearly during meetings.
- We need to _______ the old furniture before we move.
- He _______ trouble at school for not doing his homework.
Answers:
- get over
- get by
- gets across
- get rid of
- got into
Conclusion
Phrasal verbs with get are powerful tools for expressing everyday actions and emotions. By learning them in context and practicing regularly, you will sound more natural and confident in English. Start with the 15 examples above, and soon you will be using them without thinking. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—that’s how we all learn!
FAQ
1. What is the most common phrasal verb with get?
The most common one is get up, meaning to rise from bed or stand up. It appears in almost every daily conversation. Other very frequent ones include get along and get over.
2. Are all phrasal verbs with get separable?
No. Some are inseparable, meaning the object must come after the particle. For example, get over (as in recover) is inseparable: I got over the flu (not got the flu over). However, get across is separable: I got my point across or I got it across. Always check a dictionary for separability.
3. How can I remember the meanings of so many phrasal verbs?
Group them by theme. For instance, get up, get out, and get off relate to movement. Get along, get over, and get together relate to relationships. Then create one sentence for each and repeat it daily. Flashcards with example sentences work very well.
4. What is the difference between get through and get over?
Get through means to finish something (e.g., get through a book) or to reach someone by phone (e.g., get through to the office). Get over means to recover from an illness, emotion, or problem (e.g., get over a cold or get over a disappointment). They are not interchangeable.