Phrasal verb
get on with sb
Definition
phrasal verb. to have a friendly and good relationship with someone.
phrasal verb. to maintain a harmonious social relationship with a specific person; typically used to describe the quality of interaction between colleagues, family, or peers.
Examples
“I get on well with my new roommate.”
“Even though they have different personalities, the two sisters get on with each other perfectly.”
“The success of the merger depends largely on whether the executive teams can get on with their counterparts from the overseas office.”
Examples
simple
“I get on well with my new roommate.”
contextual
“Even though they have different personalities, the two sisters get on with each other perfectly.”
complex
“The success of the merger depends largely on whether the executive teams can get on with their counterparts from the overseas office.”
Usage
often used with adverbs like 'well', 'famously', or 'badly' to describe the relationship quality.
Teaching tip
note the British preference for 'get on with' versus the American 'get along with'; both are understood globally but 'get on' is a hallmark of UK English.
Pitfall
I get on with very well my boss.
I get on very well with my boss.
adverbs like 'well' usually come before the preposition 'with' or at the end of the clause, not between the preposition and the object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
get + on + with + object