# 36 - More practice using "to get" as a phrasal verb - "I got rid of my old car 🚗 last month."

In episode # 34 we talked about using that chameleon verb “get” as a phrasal verb   A phrase is two or more words used together, so a phrasal verb is combining a verb with other words. Together they have a different meaning –  a meaning that is not a direct translation of each of the words. Guess how many ways we use “get” as a phrasal verb in English. Get ready for it! There are 177 different ways we use “get” in combination with other words and each of those has a different meaning. Hey! We just used one:  “Get ready!”

Here is a review of the 5 uses of get as a phrasal verb that we practiced in episode #34:
1.      To get up – to stand up from a sitting or lying position.: I  get up early in the summertime. (present) She fell on the floor, and she can’t get up.
2.      To get along with somebody – to have a friendly relationship with them.  Her daughter and son get along. They don’t fight.
3.      To get on – to enter a means pf public transportation like a bus, plane or train.  She got on the plane on Seattle.
4.      To get off – to leave a means of public transportation. We got off the train in Portland.
5.      To get in  - to enter a vehicle (car, taxi, Uber, truck). To get out of – to leave a vehicle (car, taxi, Uber, truck). Get in the car, everyone! It’s time to go! I got out of the car to get my book.

So those are the 5 uses of “get” as a phrasal verb that we practiced before.  In this episode we’ll practice 4 more common uses. 

1.    To get over – it means to recover from a difficult experience  - like an illness…or a bad relationship…or some other bad experience. I had a bad cold last month. It took me weeks to get over it. Her boyfriend broke up with her and she can’t get over it. If I want to tell you that you need to forget a bad experience continue with your life, I can say;  “Get oer it!”
2.    to get rid of something – meaning throw something away or free yourself from something or somebody. Every spring I get rid of the clothes that I don’t wear anymore. My mom got rid of her old car.Sharon got rid of her boyfriend.
3.   to get out of – to avoid doing something especially an obligation. My son said he was sick so he could get out of going to school. You have to pay your taxes. You can’t get out of it.
4.    to get away with – to escape consequences or punishment for a crime or an action. The thief got away with stealing the woman’s purse. That guy thinks he can get away with murder. (He thinks he can do anything and he won’t have any consequences.)

Listen for “get “and past tense “got” in this  conversation between two kids at school. We’ll have the conversation first in slow English then a little faster: 

Sam: This morning, I tried to get out of coming to school today because of the math test. I told my mom that I couldn’t get up for school because I got sick during the night.
Tom: What did she say?
Sam: Well, she got suspicious right away because she knew about the test – oh, and she saw the empty bag of Oreo cookies under my bed.
Tom: Man! If you eat Oreo cookies in bed you have to get rid of the bag!!
Sam:Yeah! I know! I just got careless!
Tom: Well you are here in school, so obviously you didn’t get away with it.
Sam: You’re right about that. I just can’t get over it - my little brother gets away with murder, but I never get away with anything.
Tom: I get it, man! It’s the same with me.

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