get

Get is irregular: get, got, got. American English often uses gotten as the past participle. What get means depends on the word that follows it.

Get + noun: receive, buy, fetch

With a noun, get usually means receive, buy or go and bring. It is less formal than those verbs.

Get + adjective: become

With an adjective, get means become. It shows a change.

With a comparative, it shows a slow change: getting better, getting worse, getting older.

Some fixed phrases use a past participle: get married, get lost, get dressed, get changed.

Get to, get home: arrive

Get to + place means arrive at or reach. With home, here and there, don't use to.

Phrasal verbs with get

Get makes many phrasal verbs. Here are some common ones:

• get up – leave your bed
• get on / get off – enter or leave a bus, train or plane
• get in / get out of – enter or leave a car or taxi
• get on with – have a good relationship with
• get back – return

Common mistakes

• × I got to home late. → I got home late.
• × I'm getting tired of wait. → I'm getting tired of waiting.
• × She got in the bus. → She got on the bus.