English — Uses of get
Get is one of the most flexible English verbs. Its meaning changes with what follows it: get tired means 'become', get a letter means 'receive', get dressed means 'become dressed', get somebody to help means 'make them', and get to London means 'arrive'.
How it works
The word after get decides the meaning. Before an adjective it means 'become' (get tired, get cold). Before a noun it means 'receive/obtain' (get a present). Before a past participle it forms a change of state or an informal passive (get dressed, get lost). In get + object + to-infinitive it means 'persuade or make' (I got him to sign it). Before a place it means 'arrive at' (We got to the airport late).
Patterns
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| get + adjective | It's getting dark. I got tired. | become; change of state |
| get + noun | I got a letter today. | receive or obtain |
| get + past participle | Hurry up and get dressed. | become …-ed; informal passive |
| get + object + to-infinitive | I got him to sign it. | persuade or make someone do |
| get + to + place | We got to the airport late. | arrive at / reach |
Good to know
Note the difference between get to a place (arrive) and get + noun (receive): We got to London means 'we arrived in London', but We got a taxi means 'we took/obtained a taxi'. Also keep get + object + to-infinitive apart from make/let, which take a bare infinitive: say I got him to wait, not the wrong I got him wait.