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

1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb “get over” is a versatile expression with multiple meanings, making it a valuable addition to your IELTS vocabulary arsenal. Let’s explore its various interpretations:

1. To recover from an illness or emotional upset:
   “It took her a week to get over the flu.”

2. To accept and move on from a difficult situation:
   “He’s still trying to get over the loss of his job.”

3. To overcome an obstacle or difficulty:
   “We need to get over this hurdle before moving forward with the project.”

4. To finish or complete something:
   “Let’s get over this meeting quickly so we can start working on the new project.”

Synonyms for “get over” include “recover from,” “overcome,” “surmount,” and “move past,” depending on the context.

Mastering 'Get over' for IELTS Success

2. Contextual Usage

“Get over” is versatile and can be used in various contexts:

Informal speech:

“I can’t believe you’re still not over your ex!”

Formal writing:

“The company struggled to get over the economic downturn.”

IELTS Speaking:

“I find it challenging to get over my nervousness during public speaking.”

IELTS Writing:

“Many countries are striving to get over the obstacles posed by climate change.”

3. Grammar Analysis

“Get over” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot place an object between “get” and “over.” The correct structure is:

• Subject + get over + object

For example:

• Correct: “I need to get over my fear of heights.”
• Incorrect: “I need to get my fear of heights over.”

In questions and negative forms, “do/does/did” is used with the base form “get”:

• “Did you get over your cold?”
• “He doesn’t get over disappointments easily.”

4. 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:

1. Describing a challenge:
   “One of the biggest hurdles I had to get over was learning to manage my time effectively.”

2. Talking about personal growth:
   “Getting over my shyness has been a significant achievement for me.”

3. Discussing recovery:
   “It took me a while to get over the jet lag after my long-haul flight.”

Writing Section:

In IELTS Writing, “get over” can be used to express overcoming obstacles or recovery in various contexts:

1. Problem-solution essay:
   “To get over the issue of urban congestion, cities must invest in efficient public transportation systems.”

2. Advantages/disadvantages essay:
   “While technology offers numerous benefits, society must get over its dependence on digital devices to maintain human connections.”

3. Opinion essay:
   “I believe that to get over environmental challenges, global cooperation is essential.”

Remember to use this phrasal verb judiciously in formal writing, as it may be considered too casual in some contexts. Consider more formal alternatives like “overcome” or “surmount” when appropriate.

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

To expand your vocabulary further, here are some related phrasal verbs:

1. Get by /ɡet baɪ/: To manage with difficulty
   “We’re just getting by on our current income.”

2. Get through /ɡet θruː/: To survive or complete a difficult experience
   “She got through the exam despite being ill.”

3. Get ahead /ɡet əˈhed/: To make progress or be successful
   “Hard work is essential if you want to get ahead in your career.”

4. Get along /ɡet əˈlɒŋ/: To have a good relationship
   “I get along well with my colleagues.”

5. Get away /ɡet əˈweɪ/: To escape or go on vacation
   “We’re planning to get away for the weekend.”

6. Get back /ɡet bæk/: To return
   “When do you expect to get back from your trip?”

7. Get off /ɡet ɒf/: To leave a vehicle or escape punishment
   “Make sure you get off at the right bus stop.”

8. Get on /ɡet ɒn/: To enter a vehicle or have a good relationship
   “We need to get on the train before it leaves.”

9. Get out /ɡet aʊt/: To leave a place or situation
   “Let’s get out of here before it starts raining.”

10. Get up /ɡet ʌp/: To rise from bed or a seated position
    “I find it difficult to get up early in the morning.”

Common Phrasal Verbs for IELTS

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks:

1. It took him months to ___ the loss of his pet.
2. We need to ___ this obstacle before moving forward.
3. How do you ___ jet lag so quickly?
4. She’s still trying to ___ her fear of public speaking.
5. The company is struggling to ___ the recent financial crisis.
6. It’s not easy to ___ a broken heart.
7. The team needs to ___ their differences and work together.
8. He couldn’t ___ the shock of losing his job.
9. Children often ___ illnesses faster than adults.
10. We must ___ our prejudices to build a better society.

Sentence Transformation:

1. She recovered from her cold quickly.
   She ___ her cold quickly.

2. It’s difficult for him to accept criticism.
   He finds it hard to ___ criticism.

3. The country is still dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake.
   The country is still trying to ___ the effects of the earthquake.

4. They’re working on resolving their disagreements.
   They’re trying to ___ their disagreements.

5. I’m still processing the news of his sudden departure.
   I’m still trying to ___ the news of his sudden departure.

6. The company has successfully overcome the economic downturn.
   The company has successfully ___ the economic downturn.

7. She’s having trouble moving on from her past mistakes.
   She’s having trouble ___ her past mistakes.

8. The team needs to surmount this challenge to win the championship.
   The team needs to ___ this challenge to win the championship.

9. It took time for the city to recover from the devastating flood.
   It took time for the city to ___ the devastating flood.

10. He’s struggling to accept the changes in his life.
    He’s struggling to ___ the changes in his life.

Answers and Explanations:

Fill in the blanks:

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

Sentence Transformation:

1. She got over her cold quickly.
2. He finds it hard to get over criticism.
3. The country is still trying to get over the effects of the earthquake.
4. They’re trying to get over their disagreements.
5. I’m still trying to get over the news of his sudden departure.
6. The company has successfully gotten over the economic downturn.
7. She’s having trouble getting over her past mistakes.
8. The team needs to get over this challenge to win the championship.
9. It took time for the city to get over the devastating flood.
10. He’s struggling to get over the changes in his life.

Explanation: In all these sentences, “get over” is used to express the idea of overcoming, recovering from, or accepting a difficult situation or challenge. This phrasal verb is versatile and can be applied to various contexts, from personal emotions to broader societal or economic issues.

7. Memory Tips

To help remember the various uses of “get over,” consider the following memory aids:

1. Visualize a hurdle: Imagine yourself physically jumping over a hurdle. This can help you remember that “get over” often means to overcome an obstacle.

2. Think of recovery: Picture a sick person gradually becoming healthy. This links to the meaning of recovering from an illness or emotional upset.

3. Use a timeline: Imagine a timeline with a difficult event in the past and yourself moving beyond it. This reinforces the idea of accepting and moving on from a situation.

4. Create a story: Develop a short story that incorporates different uses of “get over.” For example: “After Tom got over (recovered from) the flu, he had to get over (overcome) his fear of public speaking to give a presentation at work. It was tough, but he finally got over (completed) it and felt proud of himself.”

By associating “get over” with these visual and narrative cues, you can more easily recall its multiple meanings and uses in various contexts.

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When using “get over” in IELTS, be aware of these common mistakes:

1. Incorrect word order: Remember that “get over” is inseparable.

   • Incorrect: “I need to get my fear over.”
   • Correct: “I need to get over my fear.”

2. Confusing with similar phrasal verbs: Don’t mix up “get over” with “get through” or “get by.”

   • Incorrect: “I’m trying to get over this difficult period.” (if you mean ‘survive’)
   • Correct: “I’m trying to get through this difficult period.”

3. Overuse in formal writing: While “get over” is perfectly acceptable in speaking and informal writing, it may be too casual for some parts of the IELTS Writing test.

   • Less formal: “Countries must get over their differences to tackle climate change.”
   • More formal: “Countries must overcome their differences to address climate change.”

4. Incorrect preposition: Don’t add unnecessary prepositions after “get over.”

   • Incorrect: “She got over from her illness quickly.”
   • Correct: “She got over her illness quickly.”

5. Misusing tenses: Be careful with the tense, especially in reported speech or conditional sentences.

   • Incorrect: “He said he will get over it soon.”
   • Correct: “He said he would get over it soon.”

To avoid these mistakes:

• Practice using “get over” in various contexts and tenses.
• When in doubt, consult a dictionary or use a more formal alternative in writing tasks.
• Pay attention to how native speakers use this phrasal verb in different situations.
• In the IELTS Speaking test, if you’re unsure about using “get over,” you can always paraphrase or use a synonym to express the same idea.

9. Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like “get over” can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS test. This versatile expression allows you to articulate ideas related to overcoming challenges, recovering from setbacks, and moving past difficulties – all common themes in IELTS tasks.

Remember to practice using “get over” in various contexts, paying attention to its different meanings and grammatical structures. Incorporate it naturally into your speaking and writing, but be mindful of the level of formality required in different parts of the test.

By expanding your phrasal verb vocabulary and using expressions like “get over” effectively, you’ll demonstrate a higher level of English proficiency, potentially boosting your IELTS score. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to use these idiomatic expressions in your everyday English conversations. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll become, helping you to get by in English with greater ease and fluency.

As you continue your IELTS preparation, remember that mastering phrasal verbs is just one aspect of language proficiency. Keep working on other areas such as grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. With consistent practice and a willingness to learn, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your desired IELTS score and getting over any language barriers you may face.