Expressions with “get”- problems and solutions

Expressions with “get”- problems and solutions
Choose any problems from below and discuss the best solutions with your partner. Note
that the problems that you choose to discuss don’t have to be things that really are issues
for you or your partner.
Useful phrases for giving and responding to advice
“The best solution is probably to…”/ “That could be solved by…”/ “The best thing to do
is…”
“I agree”/ “That sounds like a good idea”
“Hmmm, I’m not sure that is a good idea”/ “Hmmm, I’m not sure that would work”

Different meanings of “get”


Your English isn’t getting (= becoming) better.



Your company gets (= receives) lots of complaints.



Your partner has got (= obtained) a great new job but that means that he/ she won’t be
able to collect your daughter from nursery school.



You’ve got to (= arrived at) the airport and then remembered that you didn’t print your
e-ticket.

Collocations with “get”


You want to practise your English outside class but can’t get into (= become interested
in) any English books or TV series.



Young people don’t get up (= stand) to give their seat to old or disabled people.



You often get up (= get out of bed) late.



Your teenage daughter often gets back (= gets home = returns home) very late.



It’s difficult to find a time when everyone in your team can get together (= meet) to
check progress of the new project.



You’ve had a cold for two weeks and can’t get over (= recover from) it.



The employees won’t get behind (= support) the new manager.



You want to get in touch with (= contact) the CEO of a potential customer, but you
don’t have their contact details.



You’ve emailed one of your suppliers about the late delivery of some vital supplies
three times but they still haven’t got back to you (= contacted you after you contacted
them).



You really need to speak to the head of finance but you can’t get through to them (=
contact them by phone).



You don’t get on with (= get along with/ have a good relationship with) your boss.



You are often interrupted and so have problems getting on with (= continuing/ making
progress with) your work.



You want a way to get back at (= get revenge on/ pay back) your husband/ wife/
boyfriend/ girlfriend.



Your family are always getting at you (= pushing you/ nagging you) to change your
image.



A classmate got away with (= escaped the consequences of/ did wrong without being
punished) cheating in the last test.

As a class, ask about anything above which you don’t understand or can’t think of a solu-
tion for, discussing possible solutions each time.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2017

Without looking above, put one word into each gap on the next page to go with “get” or to
show its meaning.
Different meanings of “get”
Your English isn’t getting (= ______________________________________) better.

Your company gets (= ___________________________________) lots of complaints.

Your partner has got (= ______________________________________) a great new job
but that means that he/ she won’t be able to collect your daughter from nursery school.

You’ve got to (= ________________________________________________________ at)
the airport and then remembered that you didn’t print your e-ticket.
Collocations with “get”
You want to practise your English outside class but can’t get ___________________ (=
become interested in) any English books or TV series.

Young people don’t get ___________ (= stand) to give their seat to old or disabled people.

You often get ___________________________________________ (= get out of bed) late.

Your teenage daughter often gets _____________ (= gets home = returns home) very
late.

It’s difficult to find a time when everyone in your team can get _______________________
(= meet) to check progress of the new project.

You’ve had a cold for two weeks and can’t get ____________________ (= recover from) it.

The employees won’t get ___________________________ (= support) the new manager.

You want to get ______________________________________________________ touch
with (= contact) the CEO of a potential customer, but you don’t have their contact details.

You’ve emailed one of your suppliers about the late delivery of some vital supplies three
times but they still haven’t got _______ to you (= contacted you after you contacted them).

You really need to speak to the head of finance but you can’t get
___________________________________________ to them (= contact them by phone).

You don’t get ______________________ with (= have a good relationship with) your boss.

You are often interrupted and so have problems getting ________________________ with
(= continuing/ making progress with) your work.

You want a way to get ________________________ at (= get revenge on) your husband.

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2017

Your family are always getting ____________ you (= pushing you) to change your image.

A classmate got _________________________________ with (= escaped the conse-
quences of/ did wrong without being punished) cheating in the last test.
Use the mixed answers below to help with the task above.

arrived
at
away
back x 3
becoming
behind
in
into
obtained
on
on/ along
over
receives
through
together
up x 2

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2017

Add the word “get” in the right places below to make typical Business English sentences.
Some need more than one.
Do you have time to together sometime next week?

Can you tell me how to to your office?

Sorry it took me so long to back to you.

Well, I’d better back to my hotel. I have to up early to to the airport by seven for my flight.

If you need any more info, please in touch.

Is Mr Jones there? I’ve phoned his mobile a few times but I couldn’t through.

I’d love to chat more, but I’m afraid I have to on with my work. I’ll email you in the next cou-
ple of days.

Look at the previous worksheets to help.

Check your answers as a class or with the key under the fold below.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------fold----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suggested answers
Can you tell me how to get to your office?

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you.

Well, I’d better get back to my hotel. I have to get up early to get to the airport by seven for
my flight.

If you need any more info, please get in touch.

Is Mr Jones there? I’ve phoned his mobile a few times but I couldn’t get through.

I’d love to chat more, but I’m afraid I have to get on with my work. I’ll email you in the next
couple of days.

Expressions with “get” roleplays
Phone or email someone about have a (business) meeting

Start a conversation with someone who is attending the same workshop at a conference/
trade fair/ trade show (who you have never met before)

Email or phone someone to ask for some information.

You haven’t managed to contact someone, so phone another number is his or her office

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2017