What is ‘Get off’ and Why is it Important for IELTS?
‘Get off’ is a versatile phrasal verb that can significantly enhance your English proficiency, particularly in the IELTS exam. This commonly used expression has multiple meanings and applications, making it a valuable addition to your vocabulary arsenal. Understanding and effectively using ‘get off’ can help you express yourself more naturally and fluently, potentially boosting your IELTS Speaking and Writing scores.
Defining and Explaining ‘Get off’
Primary Definitions
-
To leave or exit a vehicle or form of transport:
“We got off the bus at the next stop.” -
To escape punishment or consequences:
“He got off with just a warning from the police.” -
To start or begin (usually used with an activity):
“Let’s get off to an early start tomorrow.” -
To remove something:
“Please get off that muddy jacket before coming inside.” -
To stop working or finish a period of work:
“I usually get off work at 5 PM.”
Synonyms and Equivalent Expressions
- Leave (a vehicle)
- Escape (punishment)
- Begin, commence (an activity)
- Remove, take off (an item)
- Finish work, clock out
Using ‘Get off’ in Context
Formal Usage
In more formal situations, such as the IELTS Writing task, you might use ‘get off’ sparingly and opt for more formal alternatives:
- “The passengers disembarked from the aircraft.” (Instead of “got off the plane”)
- “He was acquitted of all charges.” (Instead of “got off scot-free”)
Informal Usage
‘Get off’ is more commonly used in informal speech and is perfect for the IELTS Speaking test:
- “I got off the phone with my friend just before the interview.”
- “The students were excited to get off school for the summer holidays.”
Grammar Analysis
‘Get off’ can be separable or inseparable, depending on its meaning:
-
Separable (when meaning “to remove”):
- “Get your shoes off.” or “Get off your shoes.”
-
Inseparable (in most other cases):
- “We need to get off the train at the next station.”
- “He got off work early today.”
Note: When using pronouns, ‘get off’ must be separated:
- “Get it off.” (Not “Get off it.”)
Applying ‘Get off’ in IELTS
IELTS Speaking
Using ‘get off’ can demonstrate your command of everyday English expressions:
Question: “How do you usually travel to work or school?”
Sample Answer: “I usually take the bus to work. I get off at Central Station and then walk for about five minutes to reach my office. It’s convenient, and I get to get away from the stress of driving in heavy traffic.”
Question: “Can you describe your typical workday?”
Sample Answer: “Well, I start work at 9 AM and usually get off at around 6 PM. After I get off work, I like to hit the gym to get something off my chest – you know, relieve the stress of the day.”
IELTS Writing
While ‘get off’ is more informal, you can still use it effectively in Task 1 or Task 2 essays when appropriate:
Task 2 Example: “Many argue that juvenile offenders often get off too lightly for serious crimes. While rehabilitation should be a priority, there needs to be a balance between leniency and accountability in the justice system.”
Related Phrasal Verbs
-
Get on (/ɡet ɒn/) – To board a vehicle or to have a good relationship
“We got on the train just before it departed.” -
Get away (/ɡet əˈweɪ/) – To escape or go on vacation
“Let’s get away for the weekend.” -
Get around (/ɡet əˈraʊnd/) – To move from place to place or to circumvent
“It’s easy to get around the city by bicycle.” -
Get along (/ɡet əˈlɒŋ/) – To have a good relationship
“I get along with my colleagues very well.” -
Get over (/ɡet ˈəʊvər/) – To recover from an illness or to overcome a problem
“It took me a while to get over my jet lag.”
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
- The children were excited to ___ school for the summer holidays. (get off)
- We need to ___ to an early start if we want to avoid traffic. (get off)
- He was lucky to ___ with just a warning from the police. (get off)
- Please ___ your muddy shoes before entering the house. (get off)
- I usually ___ work at 5 PM. (get off)
- We ___ the bus at the wrong stop and had to walk extra. (get off)
- She couldn’t wait to ___ the phone with her chatty aunt. (get off)
- The hikers were relieved to finally ___ the mountain before dark. (get off)
- He needs to ___ his high horse and stop being so arrogant. (get off)
- The lawyers worked hard to help their client ___ the charges. (get off)
Sentence Rewriting
-
Original: They left the train at the next station.
Rewrite: They ___ the train at the next station. -
Original: I finish work at 6 PM every day.
Rewrite: I ___ work at 6 PM every day. -
Original: The students were excited to begin their project.
Rewrite: The students were excited to ___ to a start with their project. -
Original: He escaped punishment for his minor offense.
Rewrite: He ___ for his minor offense. -
Original: Please remove your coat before entering.
Rewrite: Please ___ your coat before entering. -
Original: We need to leave now to avoid traffic.
Rewrite: We need to ___ now to avoid traffic. -
Original: She always disembarks from the bus at this corner.
Rewrite: She always ___ the bus at this corner. -
Original: The meeting concluded earlier than expected.
Rewrite: We ___ the meeting earlier than expected. -
Original: He wants to stop using his smartphone so much.
Rewrite: He wants to ___ his smartphone addiction. -
Original: They managed to avoid paying the fine.
Rewrite: They managed to ___ paying the fine.
Answers and Explanations
Fill in the Blanks:
- get off – meaning to finish or leave
- get off – meaning to start or begin
- get off – meaning to escape punishment
- get off – meaning to remove
- get off – meaning to finish work
- got off – meaning to exit a vehicle
- get off – meaning to end a phone call
- get off – meaning to descend or leave a place
- get off – idiomatic use meaning to stop being arrogant
- get off – meaning to escape charges or punishment
Sentence Rewriting:
- got off
- get off
- get off
- got off scot-free
- get off
- get off
- gets off
- got off
- get off
- get off
Memory Tips
- Visualize leaving: Picture yourself stepping off a bus or train to remember the “exit” meaning.
- Think of a judge’s gavel: Imagine a gavel coming down and then lifting off to recall the “escape punishment” meaning.
- Use a mental image of a starter pistol: Visualize a race starting to remember the “begin” meaning.
- Picture peeling off a sticker: This can help you remember the “remove” meaning.
- Imagine a clock: Picture clock hands reaching 5 PM and people leaving work to recall the “finish work” meaning.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
-
Mistake: Using ‘get off’ when ‘get out’ is needed.
Correct: “Get out of the car” (not “Get off the car”)
Tip: Use ‘get off’ for things you’re on top of (bus, train, bike) and ‘get out’ for enclosed spaces (car, building). -
Mistake: Incorrect word order with pronouns.
Incorrect: “Get off it”
Correct: “Get it off”
Tip: Always place pronouns between ‘get’ and ‘off’ when meaning “to remove”. -
Mistake: Using ‘get off’ in overly formal contexts.
Tip: In formal writing, opt for more sophisticated alternatives like “disembark”, “conclude”, or “be acquitted”. -
Mistake: Misusing prepositions with ‘get off’.
Correct: “Get off at the station” (not “Get off in/on the station”)
Tip: Generally, use ‘at’ for stops and destinations with ‘get off’. -
Mistake: Confusing ‘get off’ with ‘get away with’.
Correct: “He got off with a warning” (escaped punishment)
“He got away with stealing” (succeeded in doing something wrong without being punished)
Tip: ‘Get off’ focuses on the punishment, while ‘get away with’ focuses on the action.
Conclusion
Mastering the phrasal verb ‘get off’ can significantly enhance your English language skills and IELTS performance. Its versatility allows you to express various concepts naturally, from leaving transport to escaping consequences. Remember to practice using ‘get off’ in different contexts, paying attention to its various meanings and grammatical structures. By incorporating this phrasal verb into your vocabulary, you’ll demonstrate a more nuanced command of English, potentially improving your IELTS scores in both Speaking and Writing sections. Keep practicing with real-life situations and sample IELTS questions to become more comfortable and proficient in using ‘get off’ and other related phrasal verbs.