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Part 2 of 4 · Same verb · different particle

“get” phrasal verbs

Same verb, different particle, different meaning. “get” has 23 of them, so they come in 4 parts. Learn these 6 one at a time, then test yourself.

23 phrasal verbslisten & quiz
get
away withbackbydowndown toin

get + away with · 1 of 6

get away with

avoid punishment

  • get away with sth
A boy tiptoes away from an empty cake plate with a finger to his lips while his mother reads on the sofa, unaware.

To do something wrong or not allowed and not be caught or punished for it.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

He cheated on the test and got away with it because no one noticed.

A: Did you really skip the meeting?
B: Yeah, and I got away with it—my boss never found out.

Common mistake

Not: She got away from not paying.

Say: She got away with not paying.

For dodging punishment, it's 'get away WITH' — 'get away from' means escape a place.

More on “get away with”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Some people think it's unfair when celebrities get away with breaking the law just because they're famous.

Tell it apart

He got away with it this time.

  • wasn't caught/punished

He got away from there fast.

  • left/escaped the place

Goes with

  • get away with + wrongdoing
Practice saying this
Next: get back

get + back · 2 of 6

get back

return

  • get back to [place)
A scene showing “get back” meaning “return to a place”.

To come back to a place, especially after being away.

How oftenVery common
LevelB1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

I usually get back from work around six o'clock.

A: What time did you get back last night?
B: Not until midnight. The train was delayed.

Common mistake

Not: I got back to home late.

Say: I got back home late. / got back late.

No 'to' before 'home' — 'get back home' or just 'get back'.

More on “get back”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If I travel for business, I try to get back home as soon as possible because I miss my family.

Tell it apart

We got back at midnight.

  • returned home

We got our deposit back.

  • had it returned

Goes with

  • get back (home/to)
Practice saying this
Next: get by

get + by · 3 of 6

get by

manage with difficulty

  • get by on/with sth
A student at a small desk counts a few coins beside a nearly empty piggy bank and a pot of instant noodles.

to manage to live or do something with just enough of what you need, often when it's difficult or you don't have much.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

I don't earn much, but I can get by on my salary.

A: How's life in the city? Is it expensive?
B: It's not easy, but I get by.

Common mistake

Not: We get by with one salary.

Say: We get by on one salary.

You get by ON an amount of money (get by WITH a tool/resource).

More on “get by”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Even though students often have a tight budget, most of them find ways to get by while studying abroad.

Tell it apart

We get by on one salary.

  • manage, just enough

We're comfortable on one salary.

  • more than enough

Goes with

  • get by + means
Practice saying this
Next: get down

get + down · 4 of 6

get down

make someone sad

  • get sb down
A woman sits at a window with her chin on her hand, looking sadly out at a heavy rain cloud.

To make someone feel sad, disappointed, or less happy.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

Rainy weather always gets me down.

A: You seem a bit quiet today. Everything okay?
B: Yeah, just the exam results got me down.

Common mistake

Not: Don't let it get down you.

Say: Don't let it get you down.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'get you down'.

More on “get down”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Sometimes, too much stress at work can really get people down and affect their motivation.

Tell it apart

All this rain is getting me down.

  • making me sad

Let's get down to work.

  • start focusing on it

Goes with

  • get + person + down
Practice saying this
Next: get down to

get + down to · 5 of 6

get down to

start focusing on

  • get down to sth
A woman rolls up her sleeves at her desk and opens her laptop, her phone pushed aside, ready to work.

to begin giving serious attention or effort to something, especially after a delay or distraction.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

After chatting for a while, we finally got down to business.

A: Are you ready to start the project?
B: Yeah, let's get down to it before we run out of time.

Common mistake

Not: It's time to get down to study.

Say: It's time to get down to studying. / get down to work.

'Get down to' takes a noun or '-ing', not a bare verb.

More on “get down to”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, when students get down to studying early, they usually achieve better results.

Tell it apart

Right, let's get down to business.

  • start focusing

This weather gets me down.

  • makes me sad

Goes with

  • get down to + task
Practice saying this
Next: get in

get + in · 6 of 6

get in

enter or arrive

  • get in to sth
A scene showing “get in” meaning “enter a car or place”.

to enter a place, vehicle, or building, or to arrive somewhere, especially after traveling.

How oftenVery common
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

What time did you get in last night?

A: Hurry up, get in the car! We're going to be late.
B: I'm coming, just grabbing my bag.

Common mistake

Not: We got in to the house at ten.

Say: We got in at ten. / got into the house at ten.

Bare 'get in' = arrive; to name the place use 'get into the house'.

More on “get in”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

I usually get in around 7 p.m. after work, so I have time to relax before dinner.

Tell it apart

I got in really late last night.

  • arrived home

I got into the car and left.

  • entered the vehicle

Goes with

  • get in + time
Practice saying this
Test yourself: which “get” fits?
Fill the gap

Which “get” fits?

Read the sentence, then pick the phrasal verb that belongs in the gap.

All of “get”

23 phrasal verbs in 4 parts.

Turn this into speaking practice

Pick one and say it out loud. Save the ones you mix up.

get away withget backget byget downget down toget in