Irregular verb
The verb to get
get → got → got / gotten
A1Meaning: to receive something; to become; to arrive somewhere · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 10 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they get·he/she/it gets - Past Simple:
got - Past participle:
got(UK) orgotten(US) - -ing form:
getting(with double t)
Conjugation of the verb to get
Present Simple
| I | get |
| You | get |
| He / She / It | gets |
| We | get |
| You (pl.) | get |
| They | get |
Present Perfect
| I | have got/gotten | I've got/gotten |
| You | have got/gotten | You've got/gotten |
| He / She / It | has got/gotten | He's / She's / It's got/gotten |
| We | have got/gotten | We've got/gotten |
| You (pl.) | have got/gotten | You've got/gotten |
| They | have got/gotten | They've got/gotten |
All the forms of the verb to get
Present Simple
Full pageget / gets
“I get the bus at 8. She gets up early.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are getting
“I am getting ready right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagegot
“I got a new phone yesterday.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were getting
“I was getting ready when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has got (UK) or gotten (US)
“I have got a new bike. (UK) / I have gotten a new bike. (US)”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad got
“She had already got ready when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill get
“I will get ready tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to get
“I'm going to get ready this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould get
“I would get ready if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to get
1. Getting something (receiving)
Here get means to receive or to win something.
- I got an A on the test.
- Did you get my message?
2. Getting + adjective (becoming)
Get + adjective shows a change: it means to become. It's getting cold means the weather is becoming cold.
- It's getting cold.
- I'm getting tired.
- She got angry.
3. Getting somewhere (arriving)
Get to a place means to arrive there. With home, there is no to: get home.
- I get to school at 8.
- When did you get home?
4. Have got: owning something (British English)
I've got two sisters means the same as I have two sisters. This form is very common in British English.
- I've got two sisters.
- Have you got a pen?
5. Phrasal verbs with get
Get up means to leave your bed. Get on / get off means to enter / leave a bus or a train. Get along with means to have a good relationship with someone. Get back means to return, and get over means to feel better after something bad.
- get up
- get on / off
- get along with
- get back
- get over
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Geting ❌
The -ing form has two t's: getting. Here is the rule: a short verb that ends in consonant + vowel + consonant doubles the last letter before -ing (get → getting, stop → stopping). But eat ends in two vowels + consonant, so it stays eating.
2. Get only means “receive” ❌
Get has several meanings, and the next word helps you choose. Before a thing, it often means to receive: I got a new bike for my birthday. Before an adjective, it means to become: I got tired after the match.
3. Mixing got and gotten ❌
For the past participle, British English uses got and American English often uses gotten: I have got it (UK), I have gotten it (US). Both are correct. Just choose one style and use it in the whole text.
Going further
Conjugating to get is a key skill in the English contest
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Related pages: get
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate get in the present?+
In the Present Simple, get has two forms. Use get with I, you, we and they: I get the bus to school. Use gets with he, she and it: She gets up early. You just add -s.
What is the past simple of get?+
The Past Simple of get is got. It is the same for every person: I got, you got, he got. Get is an irregular verb, so it does not take -ed.
Is it got or gotten?+
Both can be correct for the past participle. British English uses got: I have got a new bike. American English often uses gotten: I have gotten a new bike. The Past Simple is always got, in British and American English.
What do get up, get on, get off and get along mean?+
Get is used in many phrasal verbs, and the small word after it changes the meaning. Get up means to leave your bed. Get on and get off mean to enter and leave a bus or a train. Get along with means to have a good relationship with someone. Get back means to return. Get over means to feel better after something bad.
What is the difference between have and have got?+
For things you own, have and have got mean the same: I have a brother or I've got a brother. Have got is more common in British English and when you speak. For the past, use had: I had a bike when I was little.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/get
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.