Phrasal verb
get about
Definition
phrasal verb. to travel or move from place to place easily.
phrasal verb. to move around or travel to various places; often used in the context of mobility or the ease of transportation within a specific area.
Examples
“It is very easy to get about in this city.”
“Since she broke her leg, she has found it much harder to get about the house.”
“While the public transport network is extensive, most locals still prefer cycling as the most efficient way to get about the historic center.”
Examples
simple
“It is very easy to get about in this city.”
contextual
“Since she broke her leg, she has found it much harder to get about the house.”
complex
“While the public transport network is extensive, most locals still prefer cycling as the most efficient way to get about the historic center.”
Usage
often used with 'can' or 'be able to' to describe a person's level of mobility.
Teaching tip
note that 'get around' is a very common synonym; 'get about' is slightly more frequent in British English contexts.
Pitfall
He gets about of the city by bus.
He gets about the city by bus.
the verb is followed directly by the location or used alone; do not add 'of' after the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
get + about (+ object)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/get-about