We use three different tenses to provide the times of action. Here now we will study how “get’’ can show its roles in the three tenses.
We can use the verb “get” in all the tenses(present tense, past tense, and future tense). The verb “get’’ gives us the meanings of obtain, achieve, gain, be aware of, reach, acquire, earn, etc.
Let us discuss more interesting facts regarding the roles of “get” in all the forms of three tenses along with relevant examples and explanations.
“Get’’ in the present tense.
The present tense deals with the actions that show their execution in the present period. Now, we will come to know how “get” acts in the present tense.
We use the verb “get’’ to refer to accepting something. We also use it to indicate our actions of achieving anything from anyone.
When can we use “get’’ in the present tense?
We are definitely able to apply the term “get’’ in the present tense when it needs to present an act to be started and progress in activity. We have to use get, gets, and getting with the required auxiliary verbs.
Sentence structure of “get’’ in the present tense-
| Type of present tense | Rule to form a sentence with “get’’ in the present tense |
| 1. Present indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | a. (i) Subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural + get + object + remaining part (assertive sentence) (ii) Do + Subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural + get + object +? ( interrogative sentence) b. (i)Subject of the third-person singular number + gets + object + rest (assertive sentence) (ii) Does + Subject of the third-person singular number + gets + object +? +rest (interrogative sentence) |
| 2. Present continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number + am getting + object + rest of the sentence (assertive sentence) b. Subject of the first person plural number, second person singular/plural, third person plural number + are getting + object + rest of the sentence (assertive sentence) c. The subject of the third person singular number + is getting + object + rest (assertive sentence) |
| 3. Present perfect tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second person singular/plural, third person plural number + have got(past participle form) + object + rest (assertive sentence) b. Subject of the third person singular number + has got + object + rest (assertive sentence) |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural number + have been getting + object + rest of the sentence b. Subject of the third person singular number + has been getting + object + rest of the sentence |
Examples and explanations with the usage of “get’’ in the present tense-
| Type of present tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Present indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | The students get instructions from the teachers to make their classroom clean all the time. | The root form “get’’ does the role of giving us the formation of the simple present tense in which we see that the students receive instruction from the teachers to make their classroom clean in the normal sense. |
| 2. Present continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | They are getting the impression that they find the work very difficult. | This example shows the formation of the ongoing activities in the form of present progressive tense where it is seen they are getting the impression of finding the work difficult. |
| 3. Present perfect tense | The cricketers have got mementos for their excellent performance in the match. | The past participle form “got’’ is applied here to mention the completed action with the presence of the result. This present perfect tense shows that the cricketers have got mementos for their outstanding performance in the match. |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | The lady has been getting her children dressed for an hour for the dance show on the stage. | This example brings out the present perfect continuous tense where it is found the lady’s getting her children dressed for some time for the dance show. |
“Get’’ in the past tense.
A past tense is applied in order to provide the functions of the verbs in the past. Now, we will see the function of “get’’ in the past tense.
The verb “got’’ can be applied in the past tense when to represent the action of achieving something from someone, something, or from some abstract conception.
When can we use “get’’ in the past tense?
We apply “got’’ in a sentence when there is any necessary wish to show our obtaining something. We apply got, getting, and gotten along with the required helping verbs to construct any sentence.
Sentence structure of “get’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Rules to be followed to form a sentence with “get’’ in the past tense |
| 1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple past tense | a. Subject of all persons and numbers + got (past form) + object + rest of the sentence(assertive sentence) |
| 2. Past continuous tense/ Past progressive tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number/ third person singular number + was getting + object + remaining part of the sentence (assertive sentence) b. The subject of the first person plural number, second person singular number/plural number, third person plural number + were getting + object + remaining part of the sentence (assertive sentence) |
| 3. Past perfect tense | a. The subject of all persons and numbers + had gotten (past form) + object + rest of the sentence(assertive sentence) |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense/ past progressive tense | a. The subject of all persons and numbers + had been getting (past form) + object + rest of the sentence(assertive sentence) |
Examples and explanations of “get’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple past tense | The stranger knocked on the door several times but got no reply. | The past form “got’’ is used to show the finished action of the past where we see the stranger tried several times by knocking on the door but received no reply. |
| 2. Past continuous tense/ Past progressive tense | The visitors were getting a strange feeling upon entering the temple. | The present participle form “getting’’ shows its formation in the past continuous tense in which we see the visitor’s strange feeling on entering the temple. |
| 3. Past perfect tense | My mother had gotten a ring from my father before I was ready to go to school. | Here we see action was done before another action and shows the example of the past perfect tense. We find that my mother had received a phone call from my father before I was ready for school. |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense/ Past perfect progressive tense | Femi had been getting half an hour to finish her haircut. | This sentence is in the past perfect tense in which it is found Femi had been getting some time to complete her haircut. |
“Get’’ in the future tense.
A future tense is the form of the verb that shows its form in the future tense. Let us go through the aspects of how “get’’ does function in the future tense.
We can definitely have the usage of “get’’ in the future tense to display the action of acquiring anything from anybody.
When do we use “get’’ in the future tense?
We use the verb “get’’ along with shall/will to display gaining something or being aware of any fact in the future. We must apply shall/will, shall have/will have, shall have been, or will have been with the verb to make sentences.
Sentence structure of “get’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | How to form a sentence with “get’’ in the future tense |
| 1. Future indefinite tense/ Simple future tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number or plural number + shall get + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) b. The subject of the second person singular number or plural number/ third person singular or plural number + will get + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) |
| 2. Future continuous tense/ Future progressive tense | The subject of the first person singular number or plural number + shall be getting + object + remaining part B. Subject of the second person singular number or plural number/ third person singular or plural number + will be getting + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) |
| 3. Future perfect tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number or plural number + shall have gotten + object + remaining part (assertive sentence) B. b. Subject of the second person singular number or plural number/ third person singular or plural number + will have gotten + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense/ Future perfect progressive tense | a. The subject of the first person singular number or plural number + shall have been getting + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) b. The subject of the second person singular number or plural number/ third person singular or plural number + will have been getting + object + remaining part(assertive sentence) |
Examples and explanations of “get’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Future indefinite tense/ Simple future tense | The young cricketers will get the chance to meet their ideal heroes in the dressing room. | The base form “get’’ along with will functions to show the future action. |
| 2. Future continuous tense/ Future progressive tense | Vanessa will be getting ready to attend the function by 6 p.m. | Here the verb “getting’’ along with will be shows an ongoing action of the future. We find out that Vamika will be getting ready to attend the function. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | We will certainly have got permission to arrange a football match from the headmaster before the school ends. | The verb “got’’ presents the future action that will be executed before another action. We see that we will certainly have obtained permission to arrange a football match before school ends. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense/ Future perfect progressive tense | Moumita will have been getting more gifts from her relatives for the whole day on her birthday. | Here we see that a girl will have been receiving more presentations for the whole day on her birthday. |
Conclusion
It is obvious that we can make phrases with the verb “get’’ such as “get it’’, “can I get’’, “get someone wrong’’, etc. We also frame phrasal verbs like “get about’’, “get into’’, “get after’’, “get along’’, “get across’’, “get at’’, “get up’’, “get away’’, “get back’’, “get by’’, “get down’’, “get down’’, “get out”, “get over’’, “get to’’, and so on.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.
