Phrasal verb
get to
Definition
phrasal verb. To arrive at or reach a place.
phrasal verb. To arrive at or reach a specific destination. This transitive phrasal verb is inseparable.
Examples
“We get to the office at nine.”
“What time does your train get to London?”
“After a long and difficult journey through the mountains, the explorers finally got to the hidden temple just as the sun was setting.”
Examples
simple
“We get to the office at nine.”
contextual
“What time does your train get to London?”
complex
“After a long and difficult journey through the mountains, the explorers finally got to the hidden temple just as the sun was setting.”
Usage
This phrase is almost always followed by a noun that is a place or destination.
Teaching tip
Contrast 'get to' (common, informal) with 'arrive at/in' (more formal); 'get to' is one of the most frequent ways to express arrival in spoken English.
Pitfall
I get the school at 8.
I get to the school at 8.
The preposition 'to' is necessary to mean 'arrive at'; 'get' by itself means 'receive' or 'obtain'.
Confusables
Get to is the informal way to describe the journey's end, while arrive is the formal choice for reaching a destination.
RememberGet to is for talking; Arrive is for travel documents.
Phrasal verb
Particles
to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
get + to + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/get-to