When we talk with our friends or family members, we don’t want to sound more like a business meeting by using formal words. Rather, we relax or simplify our speech by using small words such as get, do, make, have, work to make it casual.
“I have to cancel our dinner plans. I’ve contracted the flu.”
“I can’t go to dinner tonight. I’ve got the flu.”
- Yesterday I had the opportunity to sleep in.
- Yesterday I got to sleep in.
get + n.
- I got a new car.
- Did you get a haircut?
- Have you become a Confident English Community member yet? When you do, you’ll get an email from me every Wednesday with my latest lesson.
- I got the job!!!
- She got an A on her exam.
- We’re getting some new office furniture next week.
- I got a beautiful book about Melbourne, Australia in the mail recently.
- Will you stop at the store on your way home to get some milk?
- How do you get to work?
- I get home every day at 5:30 PM.
- How are you getting home after the party? Are you walking or taking the metro?
- I apologize for getting to work late this morning.
- She’ll get here tomorrow afternoon.
get + adjective.
- I’m getting hungry!
- She’s getting married in August.
- It’s getting cold outside.
- I’m getting tired of all his complaining.
- They’re getting excited about going back to school.
- I hope you get better soon!
- Did you get all that?
- I got you. (I understand.)
- One thing I love most about my best friend is she really gets me. (She understands me.)
- Do you get what I’m trying to say?
- Do you get what I mean?
- Could you get the wine? I left it in the kitchen.
- I’d love to go for a walk! Let me get my coat.
get + infinitive verb form.
- We got to meet Barack Obama when we were vacationing in Hawaii.
- I got to sleep in yesterday.
- If I get all my work done on time this afternoon, I’ll get to paint.
- I’ve got to get to a meeting. (I must go to a meeting.)
- I’m sorry, I’ve got to go. (I need to leave.)
- You’ve got to try this! It’s delicious! (You should try this!)
Pronunciation: got to = gotta
- Let’s get going. (Start preparing to depart.)
- It’s time to get moving on this project
- We got talking and lost track of time.
- Let us get down to fundamentals and agree that young people are after all human beings – people just like their elders.
- I’ve got a cold.
- She’s got a fever.
- She’s got the flu.
- He’s got allergies.