Page 113 - Basic English Usage
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We can use | get + object + adjective | ( = ‘make something
become ...’).
! can't get my hands warm.
We must get the house clean before Mother arrives.
For go + adjective (go green, go blind etc), see 146.
get + adverb particle or preposition
Before an adverb particle (like up, away, out) or a preposition, get nearly
always refers to a movement.
! often get up at five o'clock.
! went to see him, but he told me to get out.
Would you mind getting off my foot?
We can use the structure with an object, to talk about making somebody/
something move.
You can't get her out of the bathroom in the morning.
Would you mind getting your papers off my desk?
Have you ever tried to get toothpaste back into the tube?
For structures with | geft(+ object) + verb | , see 143.
143 get (+ object) + verb-form
After get, we can use an object with an infinitive or -ing form.
get + object + infinitive
| can’t get the car to start.
get + object + -ing form
Don't get him talking about his illnesses, please.
We often use the structure with the infinitive to talk about persuading
somebody to do something.
Get John to help us, if you can. __| can't get that child to go to bed.
Wecanuse | gef+ object + past participle | with a passive meaning,
to talk about arranging for jobs to be done.
| must get my hair cut.
You ought to get your watch repaired.
We can use get instead of be to make passive structures. We often do
this when we are talking about things that happen by accident or
unexpectedly.
My watch got broken while | was playing with the children.
He got caught by the police driving at 160km an hour.
For similar structures with have, see 155.