Hello, and today I'm going to talk to you about the verb to get. Now the verb to get is probably one of the most common verbs in the English language. And it has a lot of different uses and different meanings. I'm going to record a number of podcasts about this verb, and the different meanings it has with examples. I suggest that if you have a pen and paper to hand, then you write down the meanings that I mentioned, and write down the examples too.
Okay, so let's get started. Now, get has a very wide meaning have to obtain to obtain something.
Where did you get that shirt? Where did you get it?
So we wouldn't say in English? Where did you obtain that shirt? I think one of the first things we have to say about get is that it's an informal verb. A verb like obtain, may have a similar meaning sometimes, but we wouldn't say for example, where did you obtain that shirt? [we would say] Where do you get that shirt? It's more colloquial. It's more informal, for daily conversation.
So other examples of this meaning obtain. Well,
These oranges are as good as you'll get.
They're as good as you get. We often say that, when we mean, the quality of something is not very good. The oranges that I've bought, weren't very good. But they're as good as you'll get. You won't be able to find better ones than these. Then there's another use.
She can't get enough of that pop music.
She's always listening to pop music on the radio, on her mobile phone. She can't get enough of it. It means here then that she loves it so much that she wants to listen to it again and again. She can't get enough of it.
Meaning two. Get also means to buy. And we often use get in a colloquial sense. When we want to say to buy something.
What can I get Jane for her birthday? What can I get her?
What present can I buy for her? What can I get Jane for her birthday?
I got these shoes much cheaper in the market.
Look at you with those filthy trousers, dirty trousers.
Go and get yourself some new ones.
Go and buy yourself some new ones.
Okay, meaning number three. So here's the general meaning of to achieve something or even to win something.
I got a good pass in my Cambridge exams.
I got a good pass. It means that I was awarded a good pass. They gave me a good pass. I passed the exams with a good mark. I got a good pass in a business, perhaps, they might say,
We managed to get the contract.
Meaning we won the contract - they gave the contract to us. And it's also used as well. For example, if you want to say, to get a divorce.
I want to get a divorce.
So here it means to be given a divorce.
Meaning number four. Now, we use get a lot when we're talking about calculations. We say for example,
If you add two and two, you get four.
You get four - the result is four. If you add two and two, you get four. Perhaps you're looking at a problem - at a mathematical problem. And then suddenly you say,
Ah, yes, I've got it. I've got it! Eureka!
So we say I've got it when I have the answer - I know the answer. I've got it.
Meaning number five, this is the common meaning of get. When we receive something from somebody or from something. So we often say,
to get a letter, to get an email, to get a message from somebody.
Perhaps talking about messages and mobile phones,
To get a good signal on your phone.
To get a good signal means to receive a good signal so that you can hear the person you're speaking to.
Okay, so that's enough, I think for one podcast, I will continue with other podcasts on the other meanings of to get.
So that's all for now. Bye
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