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35 Useful Phrases for IELTS Speaking

In this article, I am going to show you 35 useful phrases for IELTS Speaking with the verb ‘to GET’

You know, some words in English are extremely common, and we use them in many different ways. These include, for example,

  • have
  • do
  • make
  • go
  • get

These words have a basic meaning, but then they also have lots of different collocations with a wide range of meanings.

Getting the collocations of these words right is critical in improving your use of vocabulary and so getting a higher score in IELTS Speaking.

Today, we are going to look at the many uses and collocations of the verb To GET.

We will look at 

  • Get + noun
  • Get + adjective 
  • Advanced expressions with Get

Table of Contents

IELTS vocabulary: Get + Nouns

You can watch the video above to listen to all of these useful phrases in use.

  • I get what you are saying = I understand what you mean
  • To get an education = to go to school
  • To get a degree = to graduate from university / college
  • To get a job = to find employment 
  • To get a salary = to get paid monthly
  • To get the sack  = to lose your job (because your work is not good)
  • To get a grip = to find control 
  • To get a life = to stop doing boring and trivial things
  • To get on with things = to continue with things

IELTS vocabulary: Get + Adjective

By and large, we can say, 

Get + adjective = become 

Here are some of the more common expressions with Get + adjective. You can also get creative and make up lots of your own. 

  • Get angry
  • Get upset
  • Get annoyed
  • Get irritated
  • Get worried 
  • Get old 
  • Get stuck 
  • Get ready 
  • Get interesting
I get irritated when I can’t solve a Sudoku puzzle! 
I got worried when you didn’t answer your phone 
My grandpa needs a walking stick, he is getting old 
I often get stuck on this kind of maths problem
I need to get ready for my IELTS test, it’s tomorrow!
This film was painfully slow at the start, but now it is getting interesting

Advanced and useful expressions with 'get'

Here are some more advanced and useful expression you can use in IELTS Speaking.

  • I get the impression = it seems to me
  • To get vaccinated = to receive a vaccine 
  • To get nowhere = to make no progress 
  • To get into trouble = to find yourself with problems
  • To get out of shape = to become unfit 
  • To get into a rut = to be trapped in a boring routine
  • To get out of hand = to become out of control 
  • To get a grip = to take control 
  • To get back on track = to return to the original plan
  • To get the message = to understand what someone means

You can see them all in context in this talk below:

I get the impression the government doesn’t really know what it’s doing with COVID.

I mean they have been saying we will all get vaccinated, but we seem to be getting nowhere.

And now with these new variants, it seems we are getting into trouble again.

Of course, the lockdowns help, well they help control the spread of the virus, but they don’t help the economy, or our health physical and mental health. 

We are all watching too much TV, getting out of shape, many of us are stuck at home and we have just got into a rut – doing the same things day after day. 

I think it’s getting out of hand. We need the government to get a grip, get back on track, get the vaccines rolled out.

So, dear Mr. President, I hope you are getting the message. 

Do you know any other expressions or collocations with ‘GET’?

Let us know in the comments section below. As a community we can all learn together. 

Thank you for reading, being open to learning and contributing my friend. 

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Keith O'Hare

Trinity Dip TESOL, MSc Digital Education (UK). Helping more than 40,000 students worldwide with my online courses. A lover of languages, teaching and lasagna!

10 thoughts on “35 Useful Phrases for IELTS Speaking”

  1. Thanks Mr Keith. i am a new learner. and i always watch your informative videos on youtube. hope i will learn properly from you

  2. I can’t thank you enough for all these amazing materials , your time and effort for us.
    always always thank you so much sir!!
    (I will let you know when I get a good score hehe… hopefully……..)

  3. Hello
    I would like to know are your videos on youtube for people just who want to be tested in ILTS or even who are reading English from the basics like me?
    Thank-you

    1. Good question. Most videos are aimed at students preparing IELTS, but a lot of that preparation involves improving overall, general English levels. So I think many of the videos can be useful for general English learners too.

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