Unit 1: English In A Minute
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Session 19
Welcome to English In A Minute. Give us a minute and we'll give you a hot tip about English. Grammar, vocabulary... there's so much to learn! And all taught by your favourite BBC Learning English staff!
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Session 19 score
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- 0 / 3Activity 1
Activity 1
Five ways to use 'get'
Do you have a minute to spare to learn some English? See Sian explain five different uses of 'get' - and one very bad joke! Give us 60 seconds and we'll give you the English!
Watch the video and complete the activity

Sian
Hi, I'm Sian from BBC Learning English. Today, I'm going to give you five uses of the verb get. So you get five lessons for the price of one!
Number one – get can mean buy or obtain. I got myself a new phone last weekend.
Number two – get can mean receive. I just got a message.
Number three – get with an adjective can mean become. Ugh! So many messages! I'm getting really annoyed!
Number four – get can also mean understand. Hang on someone's just sent me a joke… I don't get it! ‘In tents!’ I get it!
Number five - get can also mean arrive. I need to get home early so I'm off!
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Did you like that? Why not try these?
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Five uses of 'get'
Buy / obtain
Get can mean buy or obtain.
- I got myself a new phone last weekend.
- I need to get some new clothes.
Receive
Get can mean receive.
- I just got a message.
- I got a bike for my birthday!
Become
Get with an adjective can mean become.
- I'm getting annoyed.
- It's got quite hot in here suddenly.
Understand
Get can mean understand.
- I don't get this joke.
- I don't often meet people who get this type of movie.
Arrive
Get can mean arrive.
- I need to get home early so I'm off!
- What time will you get here?
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To do
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English In A Minute Quiz
3 Questions
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Activity
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Hint
Use the context to understand. What do people often get on their birthday?Question 1 of 3
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Activity
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This kind of word describes things.Question 2 of 3
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Activity
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Hint
If someone explains something, but you don't get it... do you comprehend?Question 3 of 3
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