DO and GET are very useful words in English, but sometimes they are used too often.

Here are some sentences illustrating the different definitions of DO and GET.

1. I am going to do a Brahms' lullaby in the concert tomorrow. (perform) 2. The doctor said it will do no harm to stay up late. (bring about) 3. Please do them the courtesy of responding to the invitation. (pay the honor of) 4. These tasks must be done before you leave. (finished) 5. Let me do the books tonight while you rest. (prepare) 6. It is my turn to do supper. (cook) 7. Do the best you can at school today. (act or behave) 8. How are you doing today, Mrs. Jones? (fare in health) 9. "No more coffee. That does it for me," John told the waitress. (suffice) 10. Those old boards will do for the tree fort walls.. (avail) 11. Did you get the new book told you about? (acquire, procure) 12. Why don't you get supper while I iron the shirts. (prepare) 13. Mary, will you please get the salt for me? (fetch) 14. John stopped at the store and got some milk. (bought) 15. Mom, did we get mail yesterday? (receive) 16. With this overtime, I will get a good check next week. (earn) 17. How many of you got the right answer? (arrived at by calculation) 18. The wild pitch got him right on the helmet. (hit) 19. I just don't get the point of all this exercise. (to grasp the meaning of) 20. You can get the bus on the corner if you hurry. (catch)

Exercise A: Replace the underlined words with a form of DO. Write the answer on the line at the end of the sentence. Try to figure out which definition is illustrated by each sentence.

1. Mary said she had to set her hair before the dance. __________________________ 2. Jim was tired after working a double shift in the factory. _________________________ 3. The gymnast performed a complicated flip in her dismount from the high bar. __________________ 4. That second piece of pie was enough to satisfy me. ________________________ 5. Will space exploration bring about good or evil? ________________________ 6. The citizens paid homage to the aging former president. _________________________ 7. The veterinarian asked the couple how their new puppy was feeling. _____________________ 8. Mr. Harris loved to barbecue chicken on the grill. _______________________ 9. Bob's mother said he couldn't go out until he finished his homework, ________________________ 10. I used to prepare my own taxes. __________________________ Exercise B: Replace the underlined word with a form of the verb GET. Write the answer on the line at the end of the sentence. 1. In order to arrive at work on time, I have to catch the 6:30 train. ___________________________ 2. On the way home from work, Jim stopped at the store and bought a gallon of milk. _____________________ 3. I don't know why we are not receiving as much mail as we used to. ______________________ 4. I have earned a lot of money by selling things on E-bay. ____________________ 5. Ten students figured out the correct answer. _____________________

6. You kids work on your homework while I start preparing supper. ______________________ 7. Did you acquire the camping equipment I told you about? ______________________ 8. I don't understand these tax rules. ____________________ 9. The whirling Frisbee smacked Tom right on his nose. ____________________ 10. Mary, will you grab that box off the top shelf for me? _____________________ The verb DO is over-used by many English-speaking people. Here are some sentences that would be more accurate or more interesting if a different verb were used. 1. The cowboy who had been shot said to his partner, "I'm done for. Go on without me." 2. Harold's wife complained, "Are you still doing those taxes?" 3. Are the steaks done yet? 4. My old car can only do 45 uphill. 5. After completing the five-mile run, Jack said, "That will do it for me." 6. Alicia does her nails every other day. 7. Harry did a crossword puzzle before work every day. 8. Mark's band does mostly classic rock songs. 9. Jane does her laundry at night when the laundromat is almost empty. 10. My friend thought I did her wrong when I forgot to invite her to my party. Exercise C: Rewrite each of the sentences above using a verb other than DO in its various forms. Be careful to keep the same meaning as the original sentence. You may have to change other words as well. 1. ________________________________________________________________ ___

2. ________________________________________________________________ ___ 3. ________________________________________________________________ ___ 4. ________________________________________________________________ ___ 5. ________________________________________________________________ ___ 6. ________________________________________________________________ ___ 7. ________________________________________________________________ ___ 8. ________________________________________________________________ ____________ 9. ________________________________________________________________ ____________ 10. ________________________________________________________________ __