English phrasal verbs can be confusing, especially when trying to figure out whether they are separable or inseparable. One of the common expressions that causes learners to pause is get over. This phrase is used in many contexts, from emotional recovery to physical movement, and understanding whether get over is separable or inseparable is key to using it correctly. Mastering phrasal verbs like get over not only improves your grammar but also helps you sound more natural and fluent in conversations, writing, and exams like IELTS or TOEFL.
Understanding Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more ptopics, such as a preposition or adverb. These combinations often create a meaning different from the original verb alone. For example, get by itself means to obtain or receive, but get over has completely different meanings depending on the situation.
Separable vs. Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
Before focusing on get over, it helps to understand what makes a phrasal verb separable or inseparable:
- Separable: The object can be placed between the verb and the ptopic. Example: Turn off the light or Turn the light off.
- Inseparable: The object must come after the entire phrasal verb. Example: Look after your dog, not Look your dog after.
So, where does get over fit into this classification?
Is ‘Get Over’ Separable or Inseparable?
In most contexts, get over is considered aninseparable phrasal verb. This means the object must come after the full phrase. You cannot insert the object between get and over.
Examples of Get Over as Inseparable
- Correct: She can’tget overher fear of heights.
- Incorrect: She can’tget her fear of heights over.
As shown, the object ‘her fear of heights’ must follow the whole phrasal verb. Inserting it between get and over makes the sentence ungrammatical.
Meanings of Get Over
Understanding the meanings of get over helps in recognizing its usage and grammatical behavior.
1. Recover from something (emotionally or physically)
When people talk about getting over an illness, breakup, or disappointment, they are referring to recovery.
- Example: It took him months toget overthe flu.
- Example: She hasn’tgotten overthe loss of her pet.
2. To overcome an obstacle or difficulty
This could mean overcoming challenges or adjusting to a situation.
- Example: He’llget overthe shock eventually.
- Example: I can’tget overhow rude she was!
3. To move beyond or climb over something (less common)
This more literal meaning can refer to physically moving over a barrier.
- Example: We need a ladder toget overthe wall.
Even in the physical sense, get over remains inseparable. The object always follows the full phrase.
Why Some Learners Get Confused
The confusion often arises because many common phrasal verbs are separable. Learners might assume all phrasal verbs follow the same pattern, which is not the case. Additionally, the phrase get over seems like it could logically allow for separation but grammar rules dictate otherwise.
Another reason is exposure to informal or incorrect usage in casual conversation or online content. Native speakers sometimes bend rules for style or emphasis, which can mislead learners.
Helpful Tip
One simple rule of thumb is this: if the phrasal verb has an abstract meaning, like emotional recovery, it is likely inseparable. Get over fits this pattern perfectly.
Common Collocations with Get Over
To make your English more fluent, it’s helpful to memorize common expressions and collocations. Here are some that often appear with get over:
- Get over an illness
- Get over a breakup
- Get over a loss
- Get over your fears
- Get over the fact that
Using these correctly in a sentence can show mastery of both vocabulary and grammar. For example:
She finally got over her fear of public speaking.
Note again how the object (her fear of public speaking) comes after the entire phrasal verb.
Alternative Expressions for Get Over
If you’re trying to build variety into your language, you can also consider synonyms or related expressions:
- Recover from
- Move past
- Let go of
- Come to terms with
These may sound more formal, but they convey similar ideas and are often useful in academic or written contexts.
Example Sentences Using Alternatives
- It took her a long time torecover fromthe accident.
- He has finallycome to terms withhis divorce.
Knowing when to use get over and when to choose a more formal alternative can make your speech or writing more precise and appropriate for the context.
Practice and Reinforcement
To fully internalize the use of get over, especially its inseparability, practice is essential. Try completing exercises, filling in the blanks, or even creating your own sentences using different contexts. For example:
- She couldn’t her disappointment when she didn’t get the job.
- It’s hard to a loss like that.
- I can’t how amazing that movie was!
All of these should be completed with get over, and in each, you can see the object coming after the phrase, not in the middle.
Get Over
The phrase get over is an inseparable phrasal verb that expresses recovery, emotional adjustment, or physical movement. While it may seem like a candidate for separation, grammar rules clearly show that the object must follow the full phrase. By recognizing its inseparability and practicing common uses, learners can use get over naturally and effectively in both writing and speech. Understanding these patterns doesn’t just improve grammar it builds confidence and fluency. So the next time you use get over, you’ll do it with clarity and accuracy.