Get is one of the most versatile verbs in English: get plus an adjective means become, as in it’s getting dark, get plus an object plus a past participle is causative, as in I need to get my phone fixed, and get plus an object plus a to-infinitive means persuade, as in he got his colleagues to help him.
Grammar Rule
Get is one of the most versatile verbs in English and follows several distinct patterns depending on what comes after it.
Advanced Uses of Get: Rules and Examples
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| get + adjective | become | It’s getting dark; we should head home soon. She got upset after hearing the bad news. |
| get + object + past participle | causative | I need to get my phone fixed; the screen is cracked. |
| get + object + to-infinitive | persuade | He got his colleagues to help him with the presentation. |
| get to + infinitive | opportunity | We finally got to visit the museum before it closed. |
Remember: get + adjective = become; get + object + past participle = causative; get + object + to-infinitive = persuade; get to + infinitive = opportunity.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using advanced expressions with get correctly. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
B2-46. Advanced Uses of Get
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does get plus an adjective mean?
Become, as in it’s getting dark, we should head home soon.
What does get plus an object plus a past participle mean?
It has a causative meaning, as in I need to get my phone fixed.
What does get plus an object plus a to-infinitive mean?
To persuade someone, as in he got his colleagues to help him with the presentation.
What does get to plus the infinitive mean?
Having the opportunity to do something, as in we finally got to visit the museum before it closed.