How to Use Have and Get in English - Improve English Grammar

Summary

In this lesson, Kasia from Oxford Online English introduces the versatile verbs 'have' and 'get', exploring their different meanings and uses in English. Through dialogues and examples, viewers learn how these verbs function in various contexts, such as participating in events, receiving things, traveling, understanding, and more. The lesson covers key phrases like 'have a good time', 'get a taxi', and 'get someone to do something'. By examining these verbs in practical scenarios, learners can expand their vocabulary and improve their English fluency in everyday situations.

Takeaways

• 😀 'Have' can mean 'take part in an event,' as in 'I have judo class.' It’s commonly used for activities like classes, meetings, and social events.
• 😀 'Have' can also mean 'experience,' such as in 'We had a lot of fun at their wedding.' It’s used to describe what you are going through.
• 😀 'Get' can mean 'arrive' or 'reach,' for example: 'What time do you think you’ll get here?'
• 😀 'Get' can also mean 'use a form of transport,' like in 'I’ll get a taxi,' or 'get a bus.'
• 😀 'Have got' is an informal equivalent of 'have,' used for possession: 'I’ve got a new phone.'
• 😀 'Have' can be an auxiliary verb in perfect tenses, such as 'I haven’t seen her all day.' It helps form the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses.
• 😀 'Get' can mean 'receive' something, like in 'I got an email' or 'Did you get my message?'
• 😀 'Get' can also mean 'ask someone to do something,' such as 'I got someone to fix my computer.' It’s used in a structure with a person + 'to' + verb.
• 😀 'Have' can refer to 'eating' or 'drinking,' like in 'We’ll have lunch' or 'I’m having coffee.'
• 😀 'Get' can express 'become,' such as 'It’s getting cold.' This usage shows a change in state or condition.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the lesson in the script?

The lesson aims to teach the different meanings and uses of the verbs 'have' and 'get', providing examples to help learners understand how to use them in various contexts.

How is the verb 'have' used in the context of taking part in an event?

'Have' can mean to participate in an event, like in the sentence 'I have judo class.' This use is common for meetings, classes, and social events.

What does 'have' mean in the expression 'have a good time'?

'Have' in this case means 'experience'. For example, 'Have a good time!' means 'Enjoy the experience.'

What is the role of 'have' when used as an auxiliary verb?

When 'have' is used as an auxiliary verb, it helps form perfect tenses, such as in 'I haven’t seen her all day' or 'She’ll have finished her exams by July.'

What is the difference between 'have' and 'have got'?

'Have' and 'have got' both express possession, but 'have got' is more commonly used in informal spoken English. For example, 'I have a new phone' and 'I’ve got a new phone' mean the same thing.

How is 'get' used to mean 'arrive' or 'reach'?

'Get' can mean 'arrive' or 'reach', as in 'What time do you think you’ll get here?' or 'The train gets to Berlin at four o’clock.'

What does 'get' mean in the context of 'get a taxi'?

'Get' here means to use a form of transportation, like 'I’ll get a taxi.' It’s similar to 'catch' or 'take' when referring to transportation.

What does the phrase 'get someone to do something' mean?

'Get someone to do something' means to ask or arrange for someone to do a task, as in 'I got someone to fix my computer.'

What is the meaning of 'get' in the phrase 'it’s getting late'?

'Get' in this context means 'become', as in 'It’s getting late' meaning 'It is becoming late'.

How can 'have' be used to talk about illness?

'Have' can refer to being ill, as in 'I have a cold.' It can also be used with 'get' to mean 'catch an illness', as in 'I got a cold last week.'