What are the definitions of “get on for”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Be near a time.
It's GETTING ON FOR midnight.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “get on for”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb get on for is to approach or be near a certain time or age. For example, if it's almost midnight, you can say 'It's getting on for midnight.'
What are the different verb forms of “get on for”?
| Root Verb | get on for |
| Third Person Singular Present | gets on for |
| Present Participle | getting on for |
| Simple Past | got on for |
| Past Participle | gotten on for |
Example
It's getting on for lunchtime, we should start preparing the food.
Example
It gets on for evening when she finishes her work.
Example
It's getting on for two years since we last met.
Example
It got on for midnight before we left the party.
Example
By the time we finished, it had gotten on for morning.
What kind of phrasal verb is “get on for”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Intransitive verb
“get on for” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.
Example
It's getting on for midnight, we should go to bed.
Example
He's getting on for 50, but he still plays football every weekend.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“get on for” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
It's getting on for midnight, we should go to bed.
Example
He's getting on for 50, but he still plays football every weekend.
Good things to know
Does “get on for” have an informal or formal tone?
Get on for is a neutral phrasal verb. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, it is more commonly used in informal speech and less frequently in formal writing.
