Unit 22: Towards Advanced
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Session 4
Vocabulary: 10 uses of 'get'
Enjoy our version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - and learn 10 different ways to use the word 'get'.
Activity 1
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea part one - 5 uses of 'get'
A watery adventure
The English word get has many meanings and uses. In this session, we bring you BBC Learning English's own version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - and we've found many different ways to use the word get in it.
To do
As you watch part one of the story, listen out for the different uses of the word get - and decide whether this summary of the story is correct or wrong:
- Three men go to sea to look for a sea monster, but they get caught and locked up in a room on a submarine.
Watch the video and complete the activity

Darren
Hello, I'm Darren. Today's story is set in the 1800s and is a watery adventure that takes us deep under the ocean in search of a mysterious creature. What can it be? Let's find out.
There's a rumour going round that a strange sea-monster is causing ships to sink. The problem is getting out of hand so the US government decides to send a ship out into the ocean to get the beast and find out what it really is.
The ship is called the Abraham Lincoln and on board is a well-known scientist called Pierre Aronnax and his assistant, called Conseil. There's also a man called Ned Land who works as a harpooner.
Their journey gets underway but it's not long before the ship is attacked by the creature and the men are thrown overboard. They sink into the cold and dark water and then find themselves sitting on it – but to their amazement it's not a living thing but a large submarine vessel. Someone takes them on board and they get locked up in a cell.
Then they meet the captain – Captain Nemo – who tells them that they will never leave the vessel – which, by the way, is called the Nautilus. But despite being trapped on board, the men are treated well. They get to watch the incredible sea life through the ship's windows and Aronnax writes down everything he sees. However, they must obey one rule and that is they must return to their cell when they are asked to do so.
Well, it looks like they might spend the rest of their 20,000 leagues under the sea. Will the ever escape? You'll have to join me next time to find out. See you then.
To do
How was that? The summary was correct!
Have a go at our quiz to check you know the first set of get vocabulary.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - the story so far...
4 Questions
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with get. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with get. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
What does 'getting out of hand' mean?Question 1 of 4
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with get. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
The US government decides to send a ship out into the ocean to 'get' the beast.Question 2 of 4
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with get. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
Their journey 'gets underway' but it's not long before the ship is attacked by the creature.Question 3 of 4
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with get. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
They get to watch the incredible sea life through the ship's windows.Question 4 of 4
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
Next
On the next page you'll get to find out what happens next - and learn some more uses of get! See you there.
Session Vocabulary
getting out of hand (C2)
becoming hard to controlget (A1)
catchgets underway (C2)
beginsget (A2)
becomeget to (B2)
have the opportunity to (do something)KEY
A1 = Beginner
A2 = Elementary
B1 = Lower Intermediate
B2 = Higher Intermediate
C1 = Towards Advanced
C2 = Advanced