B2 GET DIFFERENT MEANINGS
Explicación
The Verb "GET" – Meanings and Uses
Grammar Guide · B2
📌 ¿POR QUÉ ES ESPECIAL "GET"?
The verb get is one of the most frequently used verbs in English. Its meaning changes depending on the grammatical structure that follows it. At B2 level, it is essential to recognize patterns and understand how structure affects meaning.
Same Verb, Many Meanings
I got tired. / I got a letter. / I got home.
Structure Changes Meaning
The structure after GET tells you what it means.
1. Get + Direct Object
get + noun (direct object)
Obtain · Receive · Buy · Fetch · Catch · Understand
Obtain / Acquire
She got a promotion after six months.
→ Ella obtuvo un ascenso tras seis meses.
They got good results in the exam.
→ Obtuvieron buenos resultados en el examen.
Receive
I got an email from the manager.
→ Recibí un correo del gerente.
Did you get my message?
→ ¿Recibiste mi mensaje?
Buy
I need to get a new jacket for winter.
→ Necesito comprar una chaqueta nueva.
He got his sister a birthday present.
→ Le compró un regalo a su hermana.
Catch (Transport)
We got the last bus home.
→ Tomamos el último autobús a casa.
She got a taxi because she was late.
→ Tomó un taxi porque llegaba tarde.
Understand (Informal)
I don't get this exercise.
→ No entiendo este ejercicio.
He didn't get the joke.
→ No entendió el chiste.
2. Get to + Place
get to + place — arrive at / reach a destination
Arrival · Movement · Destination
We got to the airport just in time.
→ Llegamos al aeropuerto justo a tiempo.
What time did you get to the party?
→ ¿A qué hora llegaste a la fiesta?
She got to work late because of traffic.
→ Llegó tarde al trabajo por el tráfico.
💡 RECUERDA
We do NOT use "to" with home, here, and there.I got home at midnight. / She got here early. / When did you get there?
3. Get + Adjective
get + adjective — become / start to be
Change of State · Very Common in Spoken English
Ejemplos afirmativos
It's getting cold.
→ Está empezando a hacer frío.
He got nervous before the interview.
→ Se puso nervioso antes de la entrevista.
The situation is getting worse.
→ La situación está empeorando.
Más ejemplos
She gets impatient when she waits.
→ Se impacienta cuando espera.
I'm getting hungry.
→ Me está dando hambre.
They got lost in the city.
→ Se perdieron en la ciudad.
4. Get + Past Participle
get + past participle
Change of State · Informal Passive
A) Change of State
They got married in June.
→ Se casaron en junio.
He got injured during the match.
→ Se lesionó durante el partido.
She got dressed quickly.
→ Se vistió rápidamente.
B) Informal Passive
In spoken English, get + past participle often replaces "be + past participle". It often suggests something unexpected or negative.
🔵 Formal (be + pp)
He was fired.
→ Fue despedido.
🟠 Informal (get + pp)
He got fired.
→ Lo despidieron. (más natural)
Ejemplos
She got promoted last month.
→ La ascendieron el mes pasado.
My phone got stolen.
→ Me robaron el teléfono.
Más ejemplos
They got stopped by the police.
→ Los detuvo la policía.
He got invited to the conference.
→ Lo invitaron a la conferencia.
5. Get + -ing Form
get + verb-ing — start doing something
Beginning of Action · Emphasis on Start
Let's get started.
→ Empecemos.
We need to get moving.
→ Necesitamos ponernos en marcha.
He got talking about politics.
→ Se puso a hablar de política.
6. Get Something Done
get + object + past participle — causative
Arrange for Someone Else · Services
💡 RECUERDA
The subject does NOT perform the action — another person does it. Very common for services (hairdresser, mechanic, etc.).
Ejemplos
I got my car repaired yesterday.
→ Me arreglaron el coche ayer.
She got her hair cut.
→ Se cortó el pelo (en la peluquería).
Más ejemplos
We are getting the house cleaned.
→ Nos están limpiando la casa.
He got his laptop fixed.
→ Le arreglaron el portátil.
7. Get Someone to Do Something
get + person + to + verb — persuade / cause
Effort · Persuasion · Cause
I got him to help me.
→ Conseguí que me ayudara.
She got her children to tidy their room.
→ Consiguió que sus hijos ordenaran su habitación.
How did you get them to agree?
→ ¿Cómo conseguiste que aceptaran?
8. Get + Preposition (Phrasal Verbs)
get + preposition / particle
Phrasal Verbs · Movement · Idioms
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning / Significado | Example / Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| Get up | Levantarse | I get up at 6 a.m. |
| Get in | Entrar (coche) | She got in the car. |
| Get out | Salir (coche) | He got out of the taxi. |
| Get on | Subir (transporte) | We got on the bus. |
| Get off | Bajar (transporte) | They got off the train. |
| Get over | Recuperarse / Superar | She finally got over the illness. |
9. Get = Have (Informal)
have got = have — possession / informal
British English · Informal · Possession
🔵 Standard
Do you have any money?
→ ¿Tienes dinero?
🟠 Informal (British)
Have you got any money?
→ ¿Tienes dinero? (más coloquial)
I've got two brothers.
→ Tengo dos hermanos.
She's got a new job.
→ Tiene un trabajo nuevo.
🎯 Why "Get" Is Important at B2 Level
- Recognize different structures and how they change meaning
- Understand how meaning changes depending on grammar
- Use informal passive forms correctly (get + past participle)
- Use causative structures correctly (get something done)
- Distinguish between literal and figurative meanings
- Master phrasal verbs with get for natural spoken English
Ejercicio 1
Instrucción: Choose the correct option to complete each sentence. Pay attention to the grammar clues — they tell you which structure of GET to use!
GET + Direct Object
obtain · receive · buy · fetch · catch · understand
GET + Adjective / Past Participle / -ing
become · passive · causative · start doing
1
after sending her CV
She got ______ to five companies.
2
if we want to catch the bus
We need to get ______ right now.
3
from the conference yesterday
Did you get ______ ?
4
while crossing the street
He got ______ by a speeding car.
5
last night
What time did you get ______ ?
6
informal meaning
I don't get ______. Could you explain it again?
7
causative structure
She got her phone ______ yesterday.
8
already 20 minutes late
Let's get ______. We can't wait anymore.
9
change of state
He got really ______ when he heard the news.
10
just before boarding
We got ______ the airport just in time.
Ejercicio 2
Instrucción: Fill in each gap with one of the expressions in the box below. Use each expression only once.
📦 Word Bank
GET + Direct Object / Noun
the promotion · an opportunity · the point
GET + Adj / pp / to-inf / -ing
frustrated · fixed · ready · better · to reconsider
1
After months of hard work, she finally got ______.
2
If you ignore the rules, you might get ______.
3
The presentation was confusing — I didn't get ______.
4
He got really ______ when the project was cancelled.
5
We need to get ______ before the clients arrive.
6
I managed to get him ______ his decision.
7
My laptop stopped working, so I got it ______.
8
Let's leave now if we want to get ______ before midnight.
9
She got ______ to work abroad last year.
10
After several attempts, things are finally getting ______.