Get Through – Meaning and Examples
Sometimes you face a difficult challenge—maybe a very hard exam, a tough workout, or a bad time in life. When you successfully finish that challenge, what do you say? In English, we use the useful phrasal verb get through.
This verb is essential for talking about endurance, survival, and completion. Let’s learn how to use get through in daily life!
What Does “Get Through” Mean?
“Get through” has two main meanings:
- To survive or endure a difficult period: This means you manage to live or continue despite hardship. (e.g., “She got through the winter.”)
- To successfully complete a quantity of work or material: This means you finish reading, writing, or covering a large amount of something. (e.g., “We got through three chapters today.”)
Think of it like pushing through a narrow passage. It’s difficult, but you make it to the other side. You are the one who is pushing to get through.
When to Use It
You can use this phrase in both personal and professional contexts:
- Personal Challenges: To talk about emotional struggles, illnesses, or difficult periods in life.
- Education/Work: To discuss completing a syllabus, a presentation, or a pile of paperwork.
- Communication: Sometimes used to mean “reach someone by phone” (less common, but still used).
This phrasal verb is neutral and is very common in everyday speech.
Example Sentences
- It was a very difficult meeting, but we managed to get through it.
- He studied all night so he could get through the final exam.
- When times were tough, her friends helped her get through the sadness.
- We still have ten reports to get through before the end of the day.
Mini Dialogue
Alex: “Wow, that book was so long! Did you finish it?”
Jamie: “Yes! It took me a week, but I finally managed to get through the whole thing.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not confuse “get through” with “get over.” “Get through” means surviving the event, while “get over” usually means recovering from the emotional or psychological effects later.
❌ Don’t say: “I want to get over this long book.” (Use “get through” to mean finishing the material.)
✅ Do say: “I took extra notes to help me get through the difficult lecture.” (Correct use to endure/complete the task.)
Practice Tip
When you have a long list of errands or chores, tell yourself, “I only need to focus on this one task to get through the list.”
Final Note
You’ve successfully learned how to use get through! This phrasal verb will help you talk about handling challenges and completing tasks with determination.
Keep using this verb to describe your resilience. You will get through all your English lessons and master them!