It Seems I Just Don't "Get" It

[JWood424]

The verb "to get" has baffled me for the longest time now, and I was hoping there would be someone here to help me out. The problem I am having is that in English we say "get" for so many different things, and it leads me to stumble when I try to say the correct verb in Spanish. For example, I can get you that book, or you can get back on the chair. We can get angry at the government or get revenge on an enemy. You may get your degree from the university while I might get lost with his directions. The couple may get married if she would only get ready. Do you get my drift? It's driving me crazy and I am hoping somoneone can help me out. I can't wait to get some responses.

[Wildefish]

The verb "To get" is overused by english speakers, sometimes in a way that would have caused people to fail an English exam 50 years ago (or so I'm told!)

The easiest workaround seems to be to use another verb in english that gives you the same meaning and then look for that in spanish.

[greytop]

Have a look here (http://www.wordreference.com/es/translation.asp?tranword=get)in Wordreference. There is a long list!!

[lazarus1907]

For example, I can get you that book

You can also give him that book. Use "dar" (to give) in Spanish.

or you can get back on the chair

You can also return to the chair. Use "volver" in Spanish.

We can get angry at the government

I can't think of an alternative right now for "get angry", but many get + adjective are full verbs in Spanish. Here, the translation "enfadarse".

or get revenge on an enemy.

...or revenge yourself on the enemy. Use "vengarse" in Spanish.

You may get your degree from the university

And you can obtain a degree too. Use "obtener" or "conseguir" in Spanish.

while I might get lost with his directions

Another get + adjective for which we have a single verb: perderse.

The couple may get married if she would only get ready.

The couple can also marry. Use "casarse".

As Wildefish said, get (=find) a synonym for "get" each time, and get (=look up) a translation in a dictionary. For those get + adjective, check the translation for the adjective.

[luvmesmbdk]

I can't think of an alternative right now for "get angry", but many get + adjective are full verbs in Spanish.

Would enojarse work?

[lazarus1907]

Yes, it would. In Spain, the most common one is enfadarse, and then you have others like enojarse, irritarse, enfurecerse, molestarse, cabrearse (colloquial), enfurruñarse, encolerizarse, contrariarse,...

Enough? ;)

[Easytraveller]

I believe they are reflexive.For one to get "verb". It's a state of being like "get yourself angry" would be "enfadarse".



Yes, it would. In Spain, the most common one is enfadarse, and then you have others like enojarse, irritarse, enfurecerse, molestarse, cabrearse (colloquial), enfurruñarse, encolerizarse, contrariarse,...

Enough? ;)