The Verb "Get" in English

Conjugation of "To Get"

The verb "get" is an irregular verb. (This means that "get" does not form its simple past tense or its past participle by adding "-ed" or "-d" to the base form.)

The Five Forms of "To Get"

FormgetAlternative Name
Base FormgetInfinitive Form
The -S FormgetsThird Person Singular Form
Past FormgotSimple Past Tense
The -ING FormgettingPresent Participle Form
The Past Participle Formgot (also gotten)[no alternative name]
the verb to get in English

Example Sentences with To Get

It's your go. Select the correct version of "to get":

"To Get" in All the Tenses

The tables below show how "get" conjugates in the past, present, and future tenses.

Past Tenses

PersonSimple PastPast Progressive TensePast Perfect TensePast Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • got
  • got
  • got
  • got
  • got
  • got
The simple past tense is for a completed activity that happened in the past.
  • was getting
  • were getting
  • was getting
  • were getting
  • were getting
  • were getting
The past progressive tense is for an ongoing activity in the past. Often, it is used to set the scene for another action.
  • had got (also gotten)
  • had got (also gotten)
  • had got (also gotten)
  • had got (also gotten)
  • had got (also gotten)
  • had got (also gotten)
The past perfect tense is for emphasizing that an action was completed before another took place.
  • had been getting
  • had been getting
  • had been getting
  • had been getting
  • had been getting
  • had been getting
The past perfect progressive tense is for showing that an ongoing action in the past has ended.

Present Tenses

PersonSimple PresentPresent Progressive TensePresent Perfect TensePresent Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • get
  • get
  • gets
  • get
  • get
  • get
The simple present tense is mostly for a fact or a habit.
  • am getting
  • are getting
  • is getting
  • are getting
  • are getting
  • are getting
The present progressive tense is for an ongoing action in the present.
  • have got (also gotten)
  • have got (also gotten)
  • has got (also gotten)
  • have got (also gotten)
  • have got (also gotten)
  • have got (also gotten)
The present perfect tense is for an action that began in the past. (Often, the action continues into the present.)
  • have been getting
  • have been getting
  • has been getting
  • have been getting
  • have been getting
  • have been getting
The present perfect progressive tense is for a continuous activity that began in the past and continues into the present (or finished very recently).

Future Tenses

PersonSimple FutureFuture Progressive TenseFuture Perfect TenseFuture Perfect Progressive Tense
  • I
  • you
  • he/she/it
  • we
  • you
  • they
  • will get
  • will get
  • will get
  • will get
  • will get
  • will get
The simple future tense is for an action that will occur in the future.
  • will be getting
  • will be getting
  • will be getting
  • will be getting
  • will be getting
  • will be getting
The future progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will occur in the future.
  • will have got (also gotten)
  • will have got (also gotten)
  • will have got (also gotten)
  • will have got (also gotten)
  • will have got (also gotten)
  • will have got (also gotten)
The future perfect tense is for an action that will have been completed at some point in the future.
  • will have been getting
  • will have been getting
  • will have been getting
  • will have been getting
  • will have been getting
  • will have been getting
The future perfect progressive tense is for an ongoing action that will be completed at some specified time in the future.

Most Common Irregular Verbs

The two most common irregular verbs in English are "be" and "have." These pages give more details about these two verbs: Here are the next 10 most common irregular verbs in English:

Most Common Irregular Verbs

The two most common irregular verbs in English are "be" and "have." These pages give more details about these two verbs: Here are the next 10 most common irregular verbs in English:
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.