Podcast 62 - B1 B2 Meanings of the verb 'to get' 2

Get referring to experiences and meaning find and fetch

Hello! Today, I'm going to continue with the verb to get and its uses and meanings. This is the second podcast on the verb to get. So, let's get on with it, shall we?

Meaning number six. Now, another meaning of the verb to get is when we talk about experiences. So we say things like,

I get the impression that his English is getting a lot better.

We get the feeling that his English is getting a lot better. I get the feeling - I get the impression.

Meaning number seven. And another use is when we want to say, to find in some contexts. For example,

You don't get tigers in Africa.

This means you don't find tigers in Africa. You only get tigers in Asia. For example, in India.

We get very good weather in Spain.

It means you can find very good weather in Spain.

We get a lot of tourists here in the summer.

You can find a lot of tourists here in the summer.

Meaning number eight. And there's a very common meaning of the use of to get, which is to fetch. That is to go and bring something back. I can remember my grandfather saying to me,

Mike, go and get me the newspaper, will you?

He would send me to the shop on the corner of the street to buy him a newspaper. Go and get me the newspaper. And if you've got a headache or something you could say to someone,

Oh, please can you go get me something for my headache?

I can't get up. I'm feeling really ill. Please go and get me something. Please go and fetch me something.

Get meaning arrive, reach, to talk about illnesses, taking transport and preparing a meal

Meaning number nine. So the verb to get can also mean to reach in both the meanings in English. So there's the meaning of reach, which means to arrive.

What time do you usually get home?

What time do you usually arrive home?

I get to work very early in the morning.

I arrive at work very early. There's the other meaning of reach when it means something that is too high up, for example, so you can't, well, you can't get it.

Can you get me the biscuit tin down, please. It's up there on the top shelf. I can't get it. I'm too short.

Can you get it for me please?

Meaning number 10. There's another meaning of get which is very common. When we talk about illnesses - when you're not very well.

I got a terrible cold. It was awful! I thought it was the flu actually. I got the flu last year. That was terrible. I was coughing and I had a headache and temperature.

To get the flu, to get a cold and at the moment something that nobody wants to get is Coronavirus. I hope I don't get Coronavirus. I'm doing my best to wear a mask. Socially distance myself. Nobody wants to get Coronavirus.

Meaning number 11. When we talk about transport, we use the verb to get. It's sort of... well. Like take, I suppose. You can take a bus or get the bus.

Shall we get a taxi?

Shall we take a taxi? Shall we take/get a boat down the river? That sounds lovely. I'll row. I'm good at rowing. So really we can use get for most types of transport.

Meaning number 12. Get can also mean to prepare. Prepare something. For example, preparing meals,

"Who will get breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"I'll get breakfast. I don't mind. I'll get it."

I'll prepare it. I'll make the breakfast tomorrow morning. I have to get the lunch every day and I'm a bit fed up really. Nobody helps me. I have to get it by myself.

Who gets lunch in your family?

Okay, so that's all for the use of get for this podcast. I'll be continuing in another podcast.

Bye for now.