Let's get this interview over with as quickly as possible. We need to get this problem sorted out. Things are getting much worse. The two of us must get down to finding out what is wrong and then put it right. You don't get on with your classmates and you don't get on with your teachers. You are disruptive in class, and this has to stop. You need to get down to thinking about your future. Do you want to stay at this school? Do you get on with your family at home? I intend to contact your parents and invite them to come to school to discuss your behaviour. You will have to promise to get down to your school work if you are to remain with us. And you will have to make an effort to get on with everyone. This is a happy school and we do not want students like you who cause trouble. You were very rude to Mr Li yesterday and I expect you to apologise. He is waiting outside. When I ask him to come in, you will get your apology over with as politely as you can and you will promise to improve your behaviour during his classes and get down to your work every lesson without any trouble. Right. Enough of what I've got to say. Let's get on with sorting out your behaviour. What have you got to say on the matter? I'm listening. NOW YOUR TURN Problems in the principal's office! The principal uses some interesting phrasal verbs in her speech to the disruptive student. 1. TO GET DOWN TO - means to start work on something or to begin getting serious about doing something When are you going to get down to doing your homework? Let's get down to some serious talking. 2. TO GET ON WITH - means to have a good relationship with someone. It also means to continue doing an activity Do you get on with your neighbours? Let's get on with this discussion. 3. TO GET (something) OVER WITH - means to tackle something unpleasant rather than delaying it anymore We must get this pay-rise issue over with as soon as possible. TASK 1 Which word belongs in the gap in each of these sentences? Is it DOWN, ON or OVER? 1. You should get your next visit to the dentist ........ with as soon as possible. 2. I must get ......... to making a bigger effort with my maths homework. 3. I'm going to get ...... with writing my novel next month. 4. Sammi is such a nice person. I don't understand why you don't get .... with her. 5. I intend to get my meeting with the boss ..... with this morning. 6. Stop talking! Get ..... to some serious work, please. TASK 2 Match up the questions with the most suitable answer. 7. Do you ever intend to get down to doing more guitar practice? 8. Why don't you get on with your neighbours? 9. Don't you think you should get your apology over with quickly? 10. Could you please get on with your work and stop chattering? 11. Should I get down to doing the gardening today or wait until the weekend? 12. How many more times have I to tell you to get on with your dinner? a. I don't know. I am always pleasant to them. b. I'll try to find more time to play this weekend, I promise. c. I'm just not hungry tonight. Sorry. d. Well, the lawn really needs mowing and the bushes need cutting down. e. You're right. I'll tell him I'm sorry the next time I see him. f. Sorry, sir. We will be quiet now. Answers 1. over 2. down 3. on 4. on 5. over 6. down 7. b 8. a 9. e 10. f 11. d 12. c Young Post's language exercises won't kill you. Thomas and Mandie survived. Mandie Ho, 17 TWGHs Mrs Wu York Yu Memorial College I find these phrases difficult. But the explanation and exercises helped me understand the phrases better. After I learned that 'to get something over with' means to get on with something without delay, I knew the answer for question 1 of Task 1 right away. Task 2 was a little more difficult. Thomas Li, 16 St Joseph's College These phrases are quite difficult. Your explanation said 'to get down to' means to start work. So when I did Task 1, I tried to pick out the sentences with that meaning. For Task 2, I tried to identify the key words in the question first. For example, when I saw the words 'guitar practice' in question 7, I knew I had to find an answer along the lines of playing.