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Collocations

20 Expressions with GET in English

Expressions with Get are commonly used in the English language, and they can sometimes be confusing for non-native speakers. In this post, you will explore the most common expressions with “get” and see examples of how to use them correctly. Whether you are learning English as a second language or simply looking to expand your vocabulary, this post will help you grasp and use these expressions with confidence.

Useful Expressions with GET

Expressions with Get in EnglishPin
Expressions with Get in English – Created by 7ESL

Get + Adjective/ Comparative

Get angry

  • Meaning: To become angry
  • Example: The parent gets angry when their child misbehaves.

Get dark

  • Meaning: To become dark, usually referring to the sky or the lighting in a room
  • Example: She gets scared when it starts to get dark outside.

Get rich

  • Meaning: To become wealthy or financially successful
  • Example: She hopes to get rich by winning the lottery.

Get better

  • Meaning: To recover or improve from an illness, injury, or situation
  • Example: I am taking medicine to get better from my cold.

Get + Preposition (Phrasal Verb)

Get to

  • Meaning: To arrive at a destination or to accomplish a task
  • Example: They have to get to the airport early for their flight.

Get in

  • Meaning: To enter a place or vehicle
  • Example: They have to get in line to buy tickets for the movie.

Get through

  • Meaning: To complete a task, to endure a difficult situation, or to successfully communicate with someone
  • Example: They need to get through the traffic to arrive at the meeting on time.

Get on

  • Meaning: To board a vehicle, to have a good relationship with someone, or to make progress
  • Example: They get on the train to travel to another city.

Get + A Place | Expressions with GET

Get home

  • Meaning: To arrive at one’s home
  • Example: He got home late last night after a long day at work.

Get to the office

  • Meaning: To arrive at one’s place of work
  • Example: She always gets to the office early to avoid traffic.

Get there

  • Meaning: To arrive at a destination
  • Example: Does she get there by driving or taking the train?
 

Get + Direct Object/Noun

Get an e-mail

  • Meaning: To receive an email
  • Example: I hope to get an e-mail from the company about my job application.

Get a present

  • Meaning: To receive a gift or present from someone.
  • Example: She wants to get a present for her sister’s graduation.

Get an award

  • Meaning: To receive recognition or an award for one’s achievements
  • Example: She is confident that she will get an award for her outstanding performance.

Get a job

  • Meaning: To obtain employment
  • Example: He got a job as a manager at the new store.

Get + Past Participle | Expressions with GET

Get worried

  • Meaning: To become anxious or concerned about something
  • Example: The parent gets worried when their child is sick.

Get involved

  • Meaning: To become a part of or to participate in something
  • Example: What organization did she get involved in to help the homeless?

Get confused

  • Meaning: To become perplexed or uncertain about something, to misunderstand or be unclear about something
  • Example: I get confused when I try to use new software.

Get married

  • Meaning: To legally enter into a marriage
  • Example: Where did they get married?

Get divorced

  • Meaning: To legally end a marriage.
  • Example: She got divorced after 10 years of marriage.

Expressions with GET in English | Video

A2 Knowledge Check · 5 questions

20 Expressions with GET in English — Practice Quiz

1 / 5
Q1

Question 1: Your friend has been sick for a week. Which expression with 'get' would you use to wish them well?

Question 1 options
"Get better" means to recover or improve from an illness, making it the appropriate expression when someone is sick. The other options don't relate to recovering from illness.
Q2

Question 2: In the expression 'get married,' the word 'get' means 'to become.'

Question 2 options
This is true. In expressions like 'get married,' 'get divorced,' and 'get confused,' the word 'get' functions as 'to become' and is followed by a past participle.
Q3

Question 3: A: How was your commute this morning? B: Terrible! We needed to ___ the traffic, and it took over an hour.

Question 3 options
"Get through" means to endure or complete a difficult situation. "Get through the traffic" is the correct collocation for dealing with heavy traffic on a commute.
Q4

Question 4: Match each 'get' expression to the situation where you would use it.

Question 4 options
Get a job
Get home
Get confused
Get an e-mail
You start working at a new company
You receive a message in your inbox
You don't understand the instructions
You arrive at your house after work

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

"Get a job" matches finding employment. "Get home" matches arriving at your house. "Get confused" matches not understanding instructions. "Get an e-mail" matches receiving a message in your inbox.
Q5

Question 5: She hopes to ___ by starting her own business.

Question 5 options
"Get rich" means to become wealthy or financially successful, which fits the context of starting a business to earn money. The other expressions don't relate to financial success.

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