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Separable Object can go in the middle or after: "pick it up" or "pick up the phone"
Inseparable Object always goes after the particle: "get on the bus" — never "get the bus on"
Intransitive No object needed: "I get up at 7."
Phrasal verbs with GET
get up
Intransitive
To rise from bed after sleeping; to stand up.
"I get up at 6 AM every morning, even on weekends."
get in / get into
Inseparable
To enter a vehicle (car, taxi) or a place.
"Get in the car — we're going to be late!"
get out / get out of
Inseparable
To exit a vehicle (car, taxi) or leave a place.
"She got out of the taxi in front of the hotel."
get on
Inseparable
To board a larger vehicle: bus, train, plane, or bike.
"He got on the bus at the university stop."
get off
Inseparable
To leave a bus, train, or plane; also to finish work.
"We got off the train at the last stop."
get back
Intransitive
To return to a place after being away.
"What time did you get back home last night?"
get along (with)
Inseparable
To have a friendly, peaceful relationship with someone.
"Do you get along with your new manager?"
get over
Inseparable
To recover from illness, sadness, or a difficult situation.
"It took her two weeks to get over the flu."
get away
Intransitive
To escape from a place or situation; to go on a short vacation.
"We need to get away for the weekend — I'm so stressed."
get rid of
Inseparable
To eliminate, throw away, or remove something you no longer want.
"I need to get rid of these old clothes — my closet is full."
⚠️ Common mistakes with GET IN vs GET ON
Use get in / get into for cars and taxis (small vehicles where you sit inside).
Use get on for buses, trains, planes, and bikes (larger vehicles or ones you ride on top of).
✓ "Get in the car." ✓ "Get on the bus." ✗ "Get on the car." ✗ "Get in the bus."
Reading: A Typical Morning in San José
📖 A Typical Morning in San José
Carlos gets up at six in the morning every day. He doesn't enjoy waking up early, but his job starts at eight. He quickly showers, has breakfast, and gets in his car. Traffic in San José is always heavy in the morning.
After twenty minutes, Carlos decides to leave his car near the university and take the bus instead. He gets on the bus at the university stop and finds a seat by the window. Thirty minutes later, he gets off two blocks from his office.
At work, Carlos tries to get along with everyone. Lately, however, he hasn't been getting along well with his new manager, Marcela. They disagree on almost everything. Carlos is trying to get over his frustration, but it isn't easy. His best friend, Diego, told him last week: "You really need to get away for a few days. Take a short trip, clear your head."
After a long day, Carlos finally gets back home at seven in the evening. He looks around his apartment and realizes it's too full of old things. "I need to get rid of some of this furniture," he says out loud. He opens the balcony door, breathes in the cool night air, and smiles. Tomorrow is a new day.
Reading comprehension — 10 questions
Read the passage carefully before answering. Each question tests both reading comprehension and your understanding of the GET phrasal verbs.
