Get: got, gotten/got
Get is an irregular verb with two past-participle forms: gotten (used mainly in American English) and got (used in British English and some American contexts). It means to obtain, receive, become, or reach something.
Uses
- Get + object: to obtain or receive something.
- Get + adjective: to become something/someone.
- Get + preposition: to go/arrive somewhere or cause something.
- Get + past participle: to have something done by someone else (only with gotten/got in passive meaning).
- Idioms and phrasal verbs: get up, get along, get over, get by, etc.
Conjugations
| Tense | Form | Example (English) | Example (Get) | Example (Get in Sentence) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | get | I get a gift. | I get a gift. | I get a gift every year. |
| Past Simple | got | She got a letter. | She got a letter. | She got a letter yesterday. |
| Past Participle (BrE) | got | They have got tickets. | They have got tickets. | They have got tickets already. |
| Past Participle (AmE) | gotten | He has gotten better. | He has gotten better. | He has gotten better recently. |
Examples
. Get + object: obtain/receive
- I got a new phone.
- She has gotten many compliments.
- Have you got my message?
- They got tickets for the concert.
. Get + adjective: become
- It’s getting cold outside.
- He got angry quickly.
- She has gotten tired of waiting.
- We got lost on the way.
. Get + preposition: go/arrive or cause
- I got to school late.
- We got home at midnight.
- Can you get the door?
- He got through the exam.
. Get + past participle: have something done
- I got my car repaired.
- She has gotten her hair cut.
- They got the house painted.
- He got the documents signed.
. Idioms and phrasal verbs
- get up = rise from bed
- get along = have a good relationship
- get over = recover from
- get by = manage to survive
In the sentence "I got my car repaired," what does "get" mean?
have something done by someone else
"Get my car repaired" means arranging for someone else to repair it.
What does "get over" mean in the idiom "get over a cold"?
recover from
"Get over" means to recover from an illness or difficult experience.
Summary
- The past of get is got.
- The past participle is either got (BrE) or gotten (AmE, except in have got meaning).
- Get can mean obtain, become, reach, or cause something.
- It appears in many common phrases and idioms.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- Tense: Base
- Form: get
- Example (Get): I get a gift.
- Example (Get in Sentence): I get a gift every year.
- Example (English): I get a gift.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
