Understanding ‘Get round to’ and Its Importance in IELTS
The phrasal verb ‘get round to’ is a crucial element in English vocabulary, particularly for IELTS candidates aiming to enhance their language proficiency. This versatile expression can significantly improve your speaking and writing skills, helping you achieve a higher band score in the IELTS exam.
Definition and Explanation
‘Get round to’ means to finally do something that you have been intending to do for some time. It implies that the action was delayed or postponed, often due to other commitments or procrastination.
Synonyms or equivalent expressions include:
- Finally manage to do something
- Eventually do something
- At last do something
Usage in Context
Here are some examples of how to use ‘get round to’ in different contexts:
- Informal speaking: “I’ve been meaning to call my grandmother for weeks, but I haven’t gotten round to it yet.”
- Formal writing: “The committee has not yet gotten round to addressing the proposed amendments to the policy.”
- IELTS Speaking: “I’ve always wanted to learn a musical instrument, but I’ve never gotten round to it due to my busy schedule.”
Grammatical Analysis
‘Get round to’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot place an object between ‘get’ and ’round to’. The correct structure is:
Subject + get round to + gerund (-ing form)
For example:
- Correct: “I finally got round to cleaning my room.”
- Incorrect: “I finally got cleaning round to my room.”
Application in IELTS
In IELTS Speaking
Using ‘get round to’ can demonstrate your ability to use idiomatic expressions, potentially boosting your vocabulary score. Here’s how you might use it in response to common IELTS Speaking questions:
Question: “Is there something you’ve been wanting to do for a long time but haven’t done yet?”
Sample answer: “Yes, I’ve always wanted to learn photography, but I haven’t gotten round to it yet. Between my studies and part-time job, it’s been challenging to find the time. However, I’m determined to get round to it this summer when I have more free time.”
In IELTS Writing
In Writing Task 2, you can use ‘get round to’ to discuss procrastination, time management, or societal issues. For example:
“Many people struggle to get round to exercising regularly, despite knowing its health benefits. This procrastination can lead to long-term health issues that societies must address.”
Remember to use this phrasal verb sparingly in formal writing, as it’s more commonly used in spoken English.
Related Phrasal Verbs
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Get around to /gɛt əˈraʊnd tuː/: Similar to ‘get round to’, meaning to finally do something after a delay.
Example: “I’ll get around to fixing the leaky faucet this weekend.” -
Put off /pʊt ɒf/: To delay or postpone doing something.
Example: “Don’t put off studying for your exam until the last minute.” -
Get down to /gɛt daʊn tuː/: To start doing something seriously or with concentration.
Example: “It’s time we got down to discussing the project details.” -
Catch up on /kætʃ ʌp ɒn/: To do something you should have done earlier or to reach the same level as others.
Example: “I need to catch up on my reading before the seminar.” -
Get on with /gɛt ɒn wɪð/: To continue doing something, especially after an interruption.
Example: “Let’s get on with our work; we’ve wasted enough time.”
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
- I’ve been meaning to read that book for ages, but I haven’t ____ ____ ____ it yet.
- When will you ____ ____ ____ fixing the broken shelf?
- She finally ____ ____ ____ organizing her closet last weekend.
- We need to ____ ____ ____ discussing our vacation plans soon.
- He’s been putting it off for months, but he finally ____ ____ ____ calling the dentist.
- I hope to ____ ____ ____ learning a new language this year.
- They never seem to ____ ____ ____ replying to emails promptly.
- When did you ____ ____ ____ cleaning out the garage?
- I’ll ____ ____ ____ answering those letters tomorrow.
- She’s been talking about it for years but hasn’t ____ ____ ____ starting her own business.
Sentence Transformation
-
Original: I’ve been planning to visit my grandparents for weeks.
Rewrite: I haven’t ____ visiting my grandparents for weeks. -
Original: John finally started working on his thesis after months of delay.
Rewrite: John finally ____ working on his thesis. -
Original: We’ve been intending to renovate the kitchen for years.
Rewrite: We haven’t ____ renovating the kitchen for years. -
Original: Sarah eventually began learning to play the guitar last month.
Rewrite: Sarah finally ____ learning to play the guitar last month. -
Original: I’ve been meaning to apologize to him for a while.
Rewrite: I haven’t ____ apologizing to him for a while. -
Original: They finally started discussing the budget issues in today’s meeting.
Rewrite: They finally ____ discussing the budget issues in today’s meeting. -
Original: Tom has been planning to write his novel for years.
Rewrite: Tom hasn’t ____ writing his novel for years. -
Original: We eventually began sorting through our old photographs last weekend.
Rewrite: We finally ____ sorting through our old photographs last weekend. -
Original: I’ve been intending to learn how to code for months.
Rewrite: I haven’t ____ learning how to code for months. -
Original: The committee finally started addressing the new proposals.
Rewrite: The committee finally ____ addressing the new proposals.
Answers and Explanations
Fill in the Blanks:
- gotten round to
- get round to
- got round to
- get round to
- got round to
- get round to
- get round to
- get round to
- get round to
- gotten round to
Sentence Transformation:
- I haven’t gotten round to visiting my grandparents for weeks.
- John finally got round to working on his thesis.
- We haven’t gotten round to renovating the kitchen for years.
- Sarah finally got round to learning to play the guitar last month.
- I haven’t gotten round to apologizing to him for a while.
- They finally got round to discussing the budget issues in today’s meeting.
- Tom hasn’t gotten round to writing his novel for years.
- We finally got round to sorting through our old photographs last weekend.
- I haven’t gotten round to learning how to code for months.
- The committee finally got round to addressing the new proposals.
Explanation: In each case, we use ‘get round to’ (or its past form ‘got round to’) to express the idea of finally doing something after a delay. The gerund (-ing form) follows ‘get round to’ in all instances.
Memorization Tips
To remember ‘get round to’, visualize a circular path (representing ’round’) that you finally reach the end of (representing ‘to’). This image can help you recall that the phrase means finally completing something after going around in circles for a while.
Another memory aid is to think of the phrase “I’ll get round to it” as a procrastinator’s motto. Imagine a round clock face with “to do” items written around it, and you’re finally reaching one of those items.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
-
Mistake: Separating the phrasal verb
Incorrect: “I got to round calling her.”
Correct: “I got round to calling her.” -
Mistake: Using the wrong preposition
Incorrect: “I’ll get round for doing it later.”
Correct: “I’ll get round to doing it later.” -
Mistake: Forgetting the gerund
Incorrect: “I finally got round to clean my room.”
Correct: “I finally got round to cleaning my room.” -
Mistake: Overusing in formal writing
Remember that while ‘get round to’ is excellent for speaking and informal writing, it should be used sparingly in formal IELTS Writing tasks.
Conclusion
Mastering phrasal verbs like ‘get round to’ can significantly enhance your English proficiency and IELTS performance. By understanding its meaning, usage, and grammatical structure, you can incorporate it naturally into your speaking and writing. Remember to practice using it in various contexts and combine it with related phrasal verbs to demonstrate a rich vocabulary. With consistent practice, you’ll find yourself naturally getting round to using this phrasal verb in your everyday English and IELTS responses.
For more IELTS preparation tips, check out our guide on the impact of renewable energy on national carbon targets and how to describe a place for a weekend getaway. These resources can help you expand your vocabulary and improve your ability to discuss a wide range of topics in the IELTS exam.