Phrasal Verb: 'Get round to' (Find Time)

This is a three-part phrasal verb. Linguists call this a phrasal-prepositional verb. It consists of a verb get, a particle round, and a preposition to. Because it has three parts, it is quite rigid. You cannot separate these pieces. You cannot say get to round. You cannot say get it round to. The three words act as a single unit of meaning. Interestingly, the word to here is a preposition, not part of an infinitive. This is the most important technical detail for C1 learners. Because to is a preposition, it must be followed by a noun or a gerund. You will often see it followed by an -ing verb. This is where most people trip up. If you master this, you will sound much more natural. It is like a secret handshake for advanced speakers.

1. 1Start with the subject of the sentence.
2. 2Conjugate the verb get to match your tense. Use got for the past. Use am getting for the present continuous.
3. 3Add the fixed particles round to immediately after the verb.
4. 4Place your object next. This must be a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form).
5. 5Add any remaining details or time markers to the end.
6. 6Example: I (Subject) + finally got (Past Verb) + round to (Particles) + answering (Gerund) + my emails (Object).

Use get round to when you want to sound relatable. It is perfect for social situations where you are explaining a delay. Imagine you are meeting a friend for coffee. You promised to send them a book recommendation weeks ago. You finally sent it yesterday. You would say, "I finally got round to sending that link!" It sounds much warmer than simply saying "I sent it." It implies that you were thinking about them. Use it in professional settings too, but be careful. It suggests you were busy, which is fine. However, it also suggests the task wasn't your top priority. In a job interview, you might use it to show initiative. "I noticed our filing system was slow, so I got round to reorganizing it last week." This shows you handle the "boring" tasks eventually. It is also great for home life. Use it for chores, repairs, or hobbies that have been gathering dust.

Do not use this for urgent or immediate actions. If a building is on fire, you don't get round to calling the fire department. You just do it. This verb requires a period of delay or anticipation. Do not use it for things you enjoy doing immediately. If you love chocolate, you don't get round to eating it. You eat it the moment you see it. Also, avoid using it in very formal legal documents. It is a bit too conversational for a contract. In those cases, use "commence" or "undertake." Finally, do not confuse it with physical movement. If you are walking around a park, you are just going round the park. Get round to is purely about time and tasks. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It only turns green after a long red light of waiting.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. The biggest mistake is using the base form of the verb after to. People often say, "I need to get round to fix the car." This is incorrect. It sounds clunky to a native ear. Always use the -ing form: "I need to get round to fixing the car." Another mistake is trying to separate the verb. You cannot say, "I got the chores round to." The phrase must stay together like a happy family. Some learners also forget the to entirely. "I finally got round doing it" is wrong. Without the to, the sentence loses its direction. Lastly, don't use it for things that haven't been delayed. If you do something immediately, get round to feels out of place. It’s like wearing a tuxedo to the beach. It just doesn't fit the vibe.

You might wonder how this differs from find time to. They are cousins, but not twins. Find time to is more neutral. It focuses on your schedule. Get round to focuses on the delay and the mental effort. If you say, "I found time to call," it sounds efficient. If you say, "I got round to calling," it sounds like you finally conquered your to-do list. Another contrast is with manage to. Manage to implies the task was difficult or there were obstacles. Get round to implies the only obstacle was time or your own laziness. Think of manage to as climbing a mountain. Think of get round to as finally cleaning the garage. One is about strength; the other is about timing.