Here is a little grammar. In this post we are going to look at six different meanings for the verb form “get” in the English language.

It is a very useful and flexible verb form, with different uses and meanings. Its versatility is enormous, and mastering it shows a deep command and knowledge of English, especially in its more colloquial registers, far from strictly academic usage. In this short lesson we will see how we can use it to mean obtain, take, receive, buy, become and even understand. And, if you would like a lighter approach, at the end of the post you will find the lesson in a short video lasting barely a minute.

Get = obtain

Translated into Spanish, we render get as “obtener” (to obtain) I need to get my B2 certificate / Necesito obtener mi certificado B2

Get = take

In this case the sense is “coger” (to take) I get the train to work / Cojo el tren para ir al trabajo

Get = receive

The meaning here is “recibir” (to receive) I got a bike for my birthday / Recibí una bicicleta en mi cumpleaños

Get = buy

One of the lesser-known meanings. Here we use get in the sense of “comprar” (to buy) I must get some milk from the shop

Get = become

We can use get with the meaning of “ponerse” or “convertirse” (to become), referring to a state of health or a physiological change. I got ill last week

Get = understand

Lastly, we can use get to mean “entender o comprender” (to understand or grasp). It belongs to colloquial speech, and its Spanish rendering would be close to “pillar o coger”, always in the sense of grasping or understanding. Do you get the meaning?

You can watch this short lesson on video

What do you make of these six uses of the verb get? As you can see, knowing these options greatly widens our vocabulary and our capacity for expression. We are sharing this explanation on video, given by our native-speaker teacher Huw and posted on our Instagram profile. What an easy way to learn!