get
verb
The root meaning
from 0 to 1: now you have it, or now it is
Before: you don't have it, or it isn't true. After: you have it, or it is. Get is the switch between the two, the moment 'have' or 'be' starts. The thing itself stays the same; it gains something new.
The tree
Where it comes from
- *gʰed-Proto-Indo-Europeanseize, take
- *getanąProto-Germanicfind, take, come to hold
- getaOld Norseobtain, reach; also be able
- getEnglish, from about 1200came in from Norse
Same root
- forgetfor- (away) + get: what you had goes back to 0
- comprehend, apprehendLatin, same root: take hold of an idea, take hold of a person
get → a thing
No thing → a thing. Now you have it.
- I got a letter today.no letter → a letter
- Can you get some milk?no milk at home → milk
- She got a new job.no job → a job
- I got a cold.healthy → a cold
- Let's get a taxi.no taxi → a taxi
get → the 1 you still hold: have got
You got it, and you still have it. So 'have got' = have.
- I've got two sisters.= I have two sisters
- I've got to go.you've got a duty: you must go
get → a place
Not there → there. You arrive.
- I got home at six.not home → home
- How do I get to the station?not at the station → at it
- Get in the car. Get off the bus.not in → in; not off → off
- I get up at seven.lying down → up
- We're getting nowhere.after all this, still at 0
get → a state
Not true → true. The thing stays the same and gains a new state.
- It's getting dark.light → dark (still the same sky)
- Don't get angry.calm → angry (still you)
- It's getting colder.cold → colder: a new state, not always from zero
- They got married.single → married
- He got into trouble.no trouble → trouble
get → something done to you
Someone or something switches you to a new state.
- He got fired.has a job → fired
- I got hurt.fine → hurt
- We got paid on Friday.not paid → paid
get → an idea
Not understood → understood. The idea is now yours.
- I get it.didn't understand → do
- I don't get the joke.still at 0
- What are you getting at?what idea do you want me to end up with?
get → making something else switch
You switch something or someone else from 0 to 1.
- I can't get the car started.not started → started
- Get dinner ready, please.not ready → ready
- Get him to call me.not calling → calling
- I got my hair cut.long → cut (someone else did it)
get → a chance
No chance → a chance to do something.
- You get to choose.you couldn't choose → now you can
- I got to know her well.didn't know her → knew her
Neighbours
get vs have. Have is the 1: a state that already holds. Get is the step from 0 to 1.
I have a car. (I own one.)I got a car last week. (Before, I didn't.)
get vs be / become. Be is the state. Get is the change into it. Become means the same as get, but sounds formal.
I'm tired. (the state)I'm getting tired. (moving into it)
get vs turn into. Turn into replaces what a thing is. Get keeps the thing and adds a state to it.
The water got cold. (still water)The water turned into ice. (not water any more)
Learn these as phrases
They don't follow the picture well.
- Get lost!rude 'go away': an order to switch to 'lost'
- Get a load of this!old slang for 'look at this'; learn it as a phrase