Unit 13: Verbs—Special Usage

Can-do Goal

I can understand and use special verb patterns in everyday English.

I can talk about actions, requests, movement, speaking, and changes. I can also use some common verb pairs correctly.

Target Vocabulary

Change and Result

  • get = become
  • become = change into something

Example: It is getting cold.

Requests and Help

  • ask = ask a question
  • ask for = request something
  • borrow = take and use something from another person
  • lend = give something for a short time

Example: Can I borrow your pen?

Speaking

  • speak = use a language or speak formally
  • talk = have a conversation
  • say = speak words
  • tell = give information to someone

Movement

  • go = move away from here
  • come = move toward here
  • take = carry away from here
  • bring = carry toward here

Actions

  • do = perform an action, task, or work
  • make = create or produce something

Thoughts and Feelings

  • hope = want something possible to happen
  • wish = want something different from reality

Seeing

  • watch = look for a time
  • look at = direct your eyes to something
  • look = use your eyes

Appearance and Relationships

  • look alike = have a similar appearance
  • look like = appear similar to something
  • belong to = be owned by
  • depend on = need something or someone

Grammar 1: Get + Adjective (Meaning "Become")

Pattern

Subject + get + adjective

We use get + adjective when a person or thing changes.

Examples:

  • I get tired after work.
  • The weather is getting colder.
  • She got angry.
Exercise Context
A young student walking home after a long school day, carrying a backpack, looking tired and sleepy, evening street, simple everyday life scene, clear facial expression showing becoming tired, suitable for beginner English learners

Compare

  • be tired = the state
  • get tired = the change

Worked Example 1

Sentence: The soup gets cold.

Meaning: The soup changes from warm to cold.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích "Get cold" có nghĩa là "trở nên lạnh". Động từ "get" ở đây mang nghĩa "become" (trở nên), diễn tả sự thay đổi trạng thái.

Grammar 2: Have / Get Something Done (Causative)

Meaning

Sometimes another person does the action for us.

Patterns:

  • have + object + past participle
  • get + object + past participle

Examples:

  • I had my hair cut.
  • She got her car repaired.

I had my hair cut.

Another person cut my hair.

She got her car repaired.

A mechanic repaired her car.

Worked Example 2

Sentence: Tom got his computer fixed.

Who fixed it? Another person fixed it.

Tom did not do the repair himself.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích Cấu trúc "get something done" dùng khi người khác làm việc đó cho chúng ta. "Tom got his computer fixed" nghĩa là Tom đem máy tính đi sửa, không phải Tom tự sửa.

Grammar 3: Commonly Confused Verb Pairs

Important Differences

Verb Pair Difference
borrow / lend borrow = receive, lend = give
say / tell say words, tell someone information
speak / talk speak = language/formal, talk = conversation
go / come go = away, come = toward
take / bring take = away, bring = here
do / make do = task, make = create
hope / wish hope = possible, wish = unreal/different
watch / look at watch for time, look at briefly
look alike / look like look alike = similar to each other, look like = similar to something

Worked Example 3

Incorrect: Can you borrow me your book?

Correct: Can you lend me your book?

The owner gives the book, so we use lend.

🔑 Đáp án & Giải thích "Borrow" là mượn, người nhận đồ dùng từ người khác. "Lend" là cho mượn, người sở hữu đưa đồ cho người khác. Vì người nói muốn người kia cho mượn sách nên phải dùng "lend".

Quick Reference

  • get + adjective → become
  • have/get something done → another person does the action
  • borrow = receive temporarily
  • lend = give temporarily
  • say something
  • tell someone something
  • do homework
  • make a cake
  • hope for something possible
  • wish for something different from reality
  • belong to = be owned by
  • depend on = need or rely on