Phrasal Verb: Get over

Phrasal verbs are like a team. You have a verb like get. Then you have a small word like over. Alone, they mean one thing. Together, they create a brand new meaning. It is like mixing blue and yellow to get green. In this case, get + over equals "to recover." This phrasal verb is "inseparable." This means you cannot put words in the middle. You cannot say "get the cold over." That sounds very strange! You must keep them together. You say get over the cold. It is like a grammar hug. The two words want to stay close. Also, get is an irregular verb. In the past, it becomes got. So, if you felt better yesterday, you got over it. It is like a grammar traffic light. Red means you are stuck. Green means you get over it and go!

1. 1Using this phrase is as easy as 1-2-3. Follow these steps to make a perfect sentence:
2. 2Start with your subject. This is the person, like I, You, or Sarah.
3. 3Add the verb get in the correct tense. Use get for today or got for yesterday.
4. 4Add the word over immediately after.
5. 5Finish with the thing that was a problem. This is the object.
6. 6Example: I (subject) + got (past verb) + over (particle) + my flu (the problem).

Use this phrasal verb when you feel better after being sick. If you had a headache but now it is gone, you got over it. Use it for emotions too. Did you lose a soccer game? If you are not sad anymore, you got over the loss. You can use it in real-world scenarios like job interviews. If you didn't get the job, you might feel sad for a day. Then, you decide to try again. You get over the disappointment. You can also use it when ordering food. If the restaurant is out of your favorite pizza, you have to get over it and pick something else! It is all about moving on. It is a very positive phrase most of the time. It shows you are strong and ready for the next thing.

Do not use get over for physical movement in a simple way. If you want to go to the other side of a street, say "cross the street." If you use get over for a wall, it usually means you are climbing it. But usually, we use this for mental or health recovery. Also, do not use it for positive things. You don't get over a birthday party or get over a delicious cake. You only get over things that were difficult, annoying, or sad. Think of it as a tool for fixing bad situations. If the situation was already good, you don't need to get over it!

One big mistake is forgetting the object. You cannot just say "I got over." Your friend will ask, "Over what? A fence? A cold? Your ex-hamster?" Always name the problem. Another mistake is trying to separate the words. Don't say "I will get it over." That actually means something different! It means to finish a task quickly. To mean "recover," keep them side-by-side. Also, watch your tenses. Many people say "I have get over." No! Use the past participle: "I have gotten over." Grammar can be a bit of a puzzle sometimes, but you will solve it.

Sometimes people confuse get over with get through. They are like cousins. Get through means to endure a difficult time while it is happening. Get over means you are finished with it. Imagine a tunnel. While you are inside, you are getting through it. When you come out the other side and feel happy again, you got over it. Another one is recover from. This is the formal version. You might see recover from in a medical book. But at a cafe with friends? Use get over. It sounds much more relaxed and natural.