Mastering ‘Get over’ for IELTS Success: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding ‘Get over’: Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb ‘get over’ is a versatile expression that plays a crucial role in everyday English and can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It primarily means to recover from or overcome something, such as an illness, a difficult experience, or an emotional setback.

Multiple Meanings

1. To recover from an illness or injury
2. To overcome a difficult emotion or experience
3. To move across or to the other side of something
4. To accept or come to terms with a situation

Synonyms for ‘get over’ include overcome, surmount, recover from, and move past.

Contextual Usage

‘Get over’ can be used in various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal settings. Here are some examples:

• Informal: “I can’t seem to get over this cold.”
• Formal: “The company is still struggling to get over the economic downturn.”
• Written: “In her memoir, she describes how she got over her fear of public speaking.”
• Spoken: “It took me months to get over the breakup.”

Contextual usage of 'get over' in IELTS

Grammatical Analysis

‘Get over’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning that ‘get’ and ‘over’ always stay together in a sentence. The object comes after the entire phrasal verb:

• Correct: “She finally got over her ex-boyfriend.”
• Incorrect: “She finally got her ex-boyfriend over.”

In questions and negative forms, ‘get’ changes while ‘over’ remains in place:

• “Did you get over your jet lag?”
• “I haven’t gotten over the shock yet.”

Application in IELTS

Speaking Section

In the IELTS Speaking test, using ‘get over’ can demonstrate your ability to use idiomatic language naturally. Here are some examples of how to incorporate it into your responses:

Question: “Describe a challenge you’ve faced recently.”
Sample Answer: “One significant challenge I faced recently was adapting to remote work during the pandemic. At first, I struggled with the isolation and lack of face-to-face interaction. However, I gradually got over these difficulties by establishing a routine and staying connected with colleagues through video calls.”

Question: “How do you deal with stress?”
Sample Answer: “When I’m feeling stressed, I find that exercise helps me get over it quickly. Going for a run or doing yoga allows me to clear my mind and overcome negative emotions.”

Writing Section

In IELTS Writing tasks, ‘get over’ can add sophistication to your essays, particularly when discussing personal experiences or societal issues. However, use it judiciously, as overuse might make your writing seem informal.

Example for Task 2:
“Many young adults struggle to get over the financial hurdles of starting their careers, such as student debt and high living costs. Governments and educational institutions must work together to help new graduates overcome these initial obstacles.”

IELTS Writing Task 2 example using 'get over'

Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Overcome /ˌəʊvəˈkʌm/ – to succeed in dealing with or controlling a problem
   Example: “She overcame her fear of flying by taking a course on aviation safety.”

2. Pull through /pʊl θruː/ – to recover from an illness or difficult situation
   Example: “Despite the severity of his condition, the patient pulled through and made a full recovery.”

3. Bounce back /baʊns bæk/ – to recover quickly from a setback
   Example: “The economy bounced back faster than expected after the recession.”

4. Move on /muːv ɒn/ – to progress or leave behind a difficult situation
   Example: “It’s time to move on from that failed relationship and focus on your future.”

5. Get past /ɡet pɑːst/ – to move beyond a difficult experience or obstacle
   Example: “He couldn’t get past the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake.”

6. Work through /wɜːk θruː/ – to deal with problems or emotions successfully
   Example: “They worked through their differences and saved their marriage.”

7. Shake off /ʃeɪk ɒf/ – to get rid of an unpleasant feeling or illness
   Example: “It took her a while to shake off the disappointment of not getting the promotion.”

8. Come to terms with /kʌm tə tɜːmz wɪð/ – to accept and deal with a difficult situation
   Example: “He’s still coming to terms with his father’s death.”

9. Put behind /pʊt bɪˈhaɪnd/ – to forget about something unpleasant and move forward
   Example: “We need to put behind our past disagreements and work together.”

10. Rise above /raɪz əˈbʌv/ – to not allow oneself to be negatively affected by something
    Example: “She rose above the office gossip and focused on her work.”

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. After months of therapy, Sarah finally __ __ her childhood trauma.
2. It took me a week to __ __ the jet lag from my international flight.
3. The team struggled to __ __ their defeat in the championship game.
4. He couldn’t __ __ the fact that he had lost his job.
5. She’s trying to __ __ her ex and start dating again.
6. The economy is slowly __ __ the effects of the recession.
7. It’s been difficult for him to __ __ the loss of his best friend.
8. We need to __ __ our differences and work together.
9. How long did it take you to __ __ your fear of public speaking?
10. The company is working hard to __ __ the recent setbacks.

Sentence Transformation

1. Original: She recovered from her illness quickly.
   Rewrite: She __ __ her illness quickly.

2. Original: It was hard for him to accept the criticism.
   Rewrite: It was hard for him to __ __ the criticism.

3. Original: The city is still dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake.
   Rewrite: The city is still trying to __ __ the aftermath of the earthquake.

4. Original: He’s having trouble forgetting about his recent breakup.
   Rewrite: He’s having trouble __ __ his recent breakup.

5. Original: The team overcame their initial setbacks and won the tournament.
   Rewrite: The team __ __ their initial setbacks and won the tournament.

6. Original: She’s learning to cope with the stress of her new job.
   Rewrite: She’s learning to __ __ the stress of her new job.

7. Original: It took years for the community to recover from the economic crisis.
   Rewrite: It took years for the community to __ __ the economic crisis.

8. Original: He’s struggling to move past his failures.
   Rewrite: He’s struggling to __ __ his failures.

9. Original: The country is slowly recovering from the effects of the war.
   Rewrite: The country is slowly __ __ the effects of the war.

10. Original: She’s determined to overcome her fear of heights.
    Rewrite: She’s determined to __ __ her fear of heights.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. got over
2. get over
3. get over
4. get over
5. get over
6. getting over
7. get over
8. get over
9. get over
10. get over

Sentence Transformation:

1. got over
2. get over
3. get over
4. getting over
5. got over
6. get over
7. get over
8. get over
9. getting over
10. get over

Explanation: In all these sentences, ‘get over’ is used to express the idea of overcoming, recovering from, or moving past a difficult situation, emotion, or experience. The tense may change (got, getting) depending on the context of the sentence.

Memorization Tips

To effectively remember and use ‘get over’, try these memory techniques:

1. Visualization: Imagine jumping over a hurdle labeled with the challenge you’re facing. This mental image reinforces the idea of overcoming or ‘getting over’ something.

2. Contextual Association: Think of personal experiences where you’ve had to ‘get over’ something. Associating the phrase with real-life situations can make it more memorable.

3. Mnemonic Device: Create a sentence like “Good Efforts Transform – Over Virtuous Endeavors Reward.” The first letters spell out GET OVER.

4. Practice in Context: Use ‘get over’ in your daily conversations. The more you use it, the more natural it will become.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Separating the phrasal verb: Remember, ‘get over’ is inseparable. Never place an object between ‘get’ and ‘over’.
   Incorrect: “I need to get it over.”
   Correct: “I need to get over it.”

2. Confusion with ‘get over with’: ‘Get over with’ means to finish something quickly, which is different from ‘get over’.
   Incorrect: “I want to get over with this cold.”
   Correct: “I want to get over this cold.”

3. Using the wrong preposition: Some learners mistakenly use ‘of’ instead of ‘over’.
   Incorrect: “She got of her fear of flying.”
   Correct: “She got over her fear of flying.”

4. Overuse in formal writing: While ‘get over’ is acceptable in the IELTS Speaking test, use it sparingly in formal writing tasks. Consider more formal alternatives like ‘overcome’ or ‘surmount’ where appropriate.

Conclusion

Mastering the phrasal verb ‘get over’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance, particularly in the Speaking section. It allows you to express ideas of recovery, overcoming challenges, and moving past difficulties in a natural, idiomatic way. Remember to practice using it in various contexts and tenses to fully incorporate it into your active vocabulary. With consistent use and application of the tips provided, you’ll find yourself confidently using ‘get over’ in your IELTS exam and everyday English conversations.

For more strategies on improving your IELTS performance, check out our guide on how to fill in the IELTS answer sheet and effective strategies for IELTS Listening gap-filling questions. These resources will help you navigate other crucial aspects of the IELTS exam, ensuring you’re well-prepared for success.