Does the verb "to get" pose many problems for lear

TheOne&Only   Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:42 am GMT
As a native speaker, I cannot necessarily attest to this; but, I personally feel that the verb "to get" would pose numerous obstacles for those learning English. I say this because it seems like many of the phrases used in English carry the verb, and worse, its placement is very arbitrary.

Is there truly a method to the verb "to get" that I just am oblivious to as a native English speaker, or is it one of those verbs that you just have to learn from experience?

Bests,
TheOne&Only
Skippy   Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:52 am GMT
Off the top of my head, the only thing I can think of is "to receive" or "to have."

The only catch is, typically, when you use it as "to have" you end up using "have" anyway. For example, "I have a phone" is the equivalent of "I've got a phone." Or, I suppose, in some dialects, you can hear "I got a phone," though in most dialects of English this implies past tense-ness.
Guest   Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:33 am GMT
It's also used as sort of an alternate passive voice:

"The house got painted twice in the last 10 years."

Another interesting case:

"I've got fat" (in a jar in the fridge)
"I've gotten fat." (gained weight)