Uses of get, do, and make

B1-B1+
Grammar
Verbs and tenses

Get has many meanings: here are some of the most common ones:

have got = have:	*Have* you got* any pets?*
get (+ noun) = receive:	Did you get* any emails today?* He got* a bicycle for Christmas.*
get (+ noun) = obtain, buy:	Could you get* my phone from the table, please?* I’ll get* some milk from the shop on my way home.*
get to (+ noun) = arrive at / in:	What time did you get to* the airport?*
get (+ adjective) = become:	I get* very tired when I work long hours.* The price of houses is getting* more expensive every year.*

Study these examples of get + adjective:

get dressed	get divorced	get undressed	get confused
get washed	get lost	get engaged	get drunk
get married	get stuck	get old	get hungry

Look at these examples of do and make:

A: What’s Jim doing?
B: He’s making a cake. (not doing)
A: What sort of cake is he making?
B: Cheesecake.
A: What’s Jane making?
B: She isn’t making
A: What’s she doing then?
B: She’s watching TV.

We usually use do for action in general, but make has the meaning of produce, e.g. make bread.

Here are some common uses of do:

do your best	do some work
do an exercise	do some homework
do your hair	do a job
do the washing up	do somebody a favour
do the cleaning	do the shopping

Here are some common uses of make:

make a complaint	make a decision
make a difference	make an effort
make friends	make a journey
make a meal	make a mistake

PRACTICE

Now it is time to practise what you have learned.

For each Practice Test, read the instructions carefully.
Complete the exercise and press 'Check' to get your results.

Practice Test A

Practice Test B

Practice Test C

Practice Test D

Nigel Bailey

Nigel is a qualified Teacher of English as a Foreign Language and has been teaching in Poland since 2003. He has been teaching over the Internet since 2008 and has taught more than 1,000 students in this way.

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