© 2002 IBM Corporation The presentation of phrasal verb “get back” by Weisheng Michelle Leslifall2012

2  The basic meaning of “get back”  1. to return to a place:  Example : I’ll talk to you when I get back.  2. to start doing something again or talking about something again.  Example : Let’s get back to the main point of the discussion.  3. to change to a previous state or condition again.  Example : I couldn’t get back to sleep.

3 Questions

4  Question 1  He got back to the office just before lunchtime. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

5  Question 2  He got back his son from the kidnappers. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

6  Question 3  We got back the money after we threatened to sue the company. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

7  Question 4  It wasn’t until we had sat down to eat that we got back to subject of Tom. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

8  Question 5  You have 14 days in which you can cancel the contract and get your money back. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

9  Question 6  Well, I must get back to work. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

10  Question 7  Do you think they’ll get back together? The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

11 Answers

12 1. A 2. C 3. D 4. B 5. D 6. B 7. C

13  Answer 1  He got back to the office just before lunchtime. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

14  Answer 2  He got back his son from the kidnappers. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

15  Answer 3  We got back the money after we threatened to sue the company. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others (GET STH AGAIN)

16  Answer 4  It wasn’t until we had sat down to eat that we got back to subject of Tom. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

17  Answer 5  You have 14 days in which you can cancel the contract and get your money back. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others (GET STH AGAIN)

18  Answer 6  Well, I must get back to work. The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

19  Answer 7  Do you think they’ll get back together? The meaning of get back is :  A. return  B. do sth again  C. be in a state again  D. others

20  The other usages of “get back”  1. get back at sb  The meaning :to do something to hurt or harm someone who has hurt or harmed you.  Example: The divorce process should not be used as a means to get back at your former partner….  2. get back to sb  The meaning : to talk to someone to telephone them later in order to answer a question or give them information.  Example : I’ll find out the prices and get back to you.

21 Thank you!