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verb

get

/ɡet/

getgotgot / gotten

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A word you can put to work

Build confidence with get.

Explore the patterns, test your choices, then use them in your own sentences.

7 useful uses8 practice questions7 activity cards
For learnersTest what you know Check answers and learn from each choice. For teachersPlan a practical lesson Ready-to-use cards, prompts and worksheets.

AI-assisted materials · Independent human review pending · Updated 26 October 2026

Verb forms and pronunciation

He / she / it
gets
Past simple
got
Past participle
got / gotten
-ing form
getting

UK /ɡet/ · US /ɡet/

Headword IPA only; audio not supplied.

What you will practise

  • Distinguish six selected uses of get and the separate have got possession construction.
  • Separate have got for possession from obtaining and becoming.
  • Use destination, adjective and to-infinitive patterns accurately.

7 selected meanings and uses

1. Receive something from a person or service.

get + thing + from + source

  • I got a reminder from the library this morning.
  • Did you get the link I sent?

Useful combinations: get a reply · get a message

Receive is often a more formal alternative for this meaning, but it cannot replace every use of get.

2. Change into a different state.

get + adjective

  • The classroom gets noisy after lunch.
  • My handwriting is getting clearer.

Useful combinations: get tired · get better

Got is the usual British past participle. American English often uses gotten for becoming or obtaining; have got for possession is a separate pattern.

3. Reach a destination.

get to + place; get home/here/there

  • We got to the gallery before it closed.
  • What time did you get home after the workshop?

Useful combinations: get to school · get home

Most destinations take to. Home, here and there do not.

4. Understand an idea in informal speech.

get + idea; get + what-clause

  • I did not get the joke until she explained it.
  • Now I get why the timetable changed.

Useful combinations: get the point · get the joke

Understand is often more suitable in formal writing.

5. Arrange for work to be carried out.

get + object + past participle

  • We got the classroom lock replaced.
  • I am getting the bicycle serviced on Friday.

Useful combinations: get a lock replaced · get a bicycle serviced

The subject arranges the work; this does not mean personally doing it.

6. Persuade or cause a person to act.

get + person + to-infinitive

  • We got the organiser to extend the deadline.
  • I could not get my colleague to join the rehearsal.

Useful combinations: get someone to help · get someone to agree

Include to before the following verb.

7. Have something now, in the construction have got.

have/has got + noun; Have/Has + subject + got ...?

  • We have got a spare classroom key.
  • Has the club got enough chairs?

Useful combinations: have got a key · has got enough time

This is a possession construction, not the receiving meaning of get. For past possession, use had: We had a spare key last year.

Choose the right word or pattern

Got or gotten?

Past simple is got in both varieties. British English usually uses got as the participle; American English commonly uses gotten for obtaining or becoming. Have got for possession is a separate construction.

  • British: The instructions have got clearer.
  • American: The instructions have gotten clearer.

Get somewhere or go somewhere?

Get emphasises arrival. Go describes travel or movement. Use get home without to.

  • I went to the studio to collect a cable.
  • I got to the studio at noon.

Get something done or do it yourself?

Get + object + participle often describes arranging a service.

  • I got the poster printed at the copy shop.
  • I printed the poster on my own printer.

Common mistakes explained

Check this: The room is getting noisily.

Correction: The room is getting noisy.

An adjective describes the state after get in this pattern.

Check this: I got to home late.

Correction: I got home late.

No to before home.

Check this: We got him explain it.

Correction: We got him to explain it.

Persuasion uses get + person + to-infinitive.

Practise get: questions and explanations

Choose an answer, then check why it works. You can also open an explanation whenever you need help.

1I ___ your message yesterday.
Show answer and explanation

C. got

Both British and American English use got for past simple.

2Which form describes a change of state correctly?
Show answer and explanation

B. The room is getting noisy.

Noisy is an adjective describing the changing state.

3Which sentence correctly describes arriving at your house?
Show answer and explanation

C. I got home at six.

Home follows get directly in this arrival pattern.

4I finally get the point. What does get mean here?
Show answer and explanation

A. Understand

The point is an idea, so get expresses understanding.

5I got my laptop repaired by a technician. Who repaired it?
Show answer and explanation

B. The technician.

The technician did the work; I arranged it.

6We got the caretaker ___ the door.
Show answer and explanation

D. to unlock

Use get + person + to-infinitive.

7Which statement about got and gotten is correct?
Show answer and explanation

C. Got is past simple in both varieties; gotten is a common US participle.

Distinguish the past form got from the regional participles got and gotten.

8I have got two keys. In this construction, have got expresses ...
Show answer and explanation

A. possession now

Have got is a separate possession pattern; it is not a statement of when the keys were received.

Write and correct

Write your own response first. Model answers are examples; other natural answers may be correct.

Use the space below or your notebook. Your writing stays in this page; copy anything you want to keep.

  1. Model answer and marking guidance

    We got home after nine.

    Remove to before home.

    Accept: Remove to before home.

  2. Model answer and marking guidance

    We got the tutor to repeat it.

    Keep the person and to-infinitive.

    Accept: Keep the person and to-infinitive.

  3. Model answer and marking guidance

    I arranged for someone to repair my watch.

    Distinguish arranging from personally repairing.

    Accept: Distinguish arranging from personally repairing.

  4. Model answer and marking guidance

    The corridor gets quieter after the last lesson.

    Accept a natural changing-state sentence.

    Accept: Accept a natural changing-state sentence.

  5. Model answer and marking guidance

    Did you get my email yesterday?

    Require did + get; accept original wording.

    Accept: Require did + get; accept original wording.

Teacher activities and printable materials

Download the five-verb classroom pack (PDF)

The pack covers take, get, make, do and achieve. Student worksheets and teacher answer keys are separated. Select the pages you need before printing.

Lesson activity

Goal: Distinguish six selected uses of get and the separate have got possession construction. Separate have got for possession from obtaining and becoming. Use destination, adjective and to-infinitive patterns accurately.

Sort the supplied context cards by meaning or function (5 minutes), explain their patterns (4), practise the supplied dialogue roles (7), and complete the exit checks (4).

Assess meaning, form and word combination separately. Accept original answers that meet the criteria.

Context cards

Card A

I got the registration email this morning.

Card B

The playground is getting quieter.

Card C

We got to the hall after the doors opened.

Card D

I did not get the joke until the last sentence.

Card E

We got the classroom windows repaired.

Card F

They got the librarian to open the meeting room.

Card G

Our club has got twelve chairs, so nobody needs to bring one.

Teacher card key
  • A: Receive something from a person or service.
  • B: Change into a different state.
  • C: Reach a destination.
  • D: Understand an idea in informal speech.
  • E: Arrange for work to be carried out.
  • F: Persuade or cause a person to act.
  • G: Have something now, in the construction have got.

Partner task

Role A: Plan a meeting: ask when your partner can get to the venue and whether they got the invitation.

Role B: Give an arrival time, ask for an explanation, and describe a repair you arranged.

  • Identify six selected uses of get.
  • Separate have got for possession from obtaining and becoming.
  • Use destination, adjective and to-infinitive patterns accurately.

Exit checks

  1. Describe an arrival.

    Sample answer

    I got to the station at five.

  2. Describe a change.

    Sample answer

    The evenings are getting cooler.

  3. Describe a service you arranged.

    Sample answer

    I got my bag repaired.

References and scope

This guide covers selected uses, not every dictionary meaning. Reference excerpts were consulted for language facts; full-source verification and independent human review remain pending. Examples and activities were written for this guide.