MicroEnglish.

Get round to
Phrasal Verbs | B2

Listening exercises with “Get round to”

to get round/around to something = to do something which you had been planning to do or wanted to do for a while.

If you finally get round to doing something, it means that you had wanted or needed to do something for a while, and eventually found the time to do it. e.g. I finally got round to fixing that dripping tap.

This expression is often used negatively when you are explaining that you didn’t have time do do something, e.g. I didn’t get round to taking the dog for a walk = I was planning on taking the dog for a walk, but I didn’t have time or had too many other things to do.

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Accent: Scotland

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– .
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I to doing taxes – done months .
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I finally round to doing taxes – I should done them months .
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Accent: North America

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.
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I going for at the never seem .
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I always on going for a at the but I never seem to around to .
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Accent: Ireland

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. .
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I to watching you . It wasn't of thing .
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I finally round to watching film you . It wasn't my kind of thing to be .
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In

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11 responses

  1. Tanya Avatar
    Tanya

    Well, I never get round to transplanting vases)
    From my childhood I had wanted to fly on a baloon and few years ago I finally got round to doing it 🙂 Actually, we just get up and down, but it was enough for me as I was so afraid of high! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Thanks Tanya!

      Good example – I’ve never been up in a balloon (note the spelling). Hopefully one day 🙂

      I would say: “Actually we just went up and down…”

      And at the end, you could either say: “It was enough for me as I am so afraid of heights” (if you have a general fear/phobia of heights) or “I was so afraid of being high up” (if you were only afraid in that specific moment”.

      Well done!

      Reply
  2. mariwa Avatar
    mariwa

    Hello)
    – Yes, there is. There is a Christmas tree (faux) waiting to be packted. I feel that next Christmas will come sooner than I finally get round to packing it:)
    – I”ve been dreaming of driving a car and finally I got round to driving school, passed the exams and got the driver’s license.

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Hi Mariwa 🙂

      Excellent examples, well done. One tiny correction – careful with the spelling of packed.

      Congratulations on getting your license!

      Reply
  3. Aline Avatar
    Aline

    I didn’t get round to going to the bank. I hope I do it next week

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Thanks Aline 🙂

      Your example is fine, but I would suggest using the structure ‘to hope to do something’. This structure can be used when the two subjects are the same (e.g. I hope I, or he hopes he), and it also communicates the idea of a plan or intention. So you could say – “I hope to do it next week”.

      Reply
  4. idaro Avatar
    idaro

    I haven’t got round to painting the apartment, the paint was bought two months ago, though.

    I had been putting off a report at work, I got round to outlining it last weekend. I hope to finish it by next weekend.

    Reply
    1. Chris Bargery Avatar
      Chris Bargery

      Good examples Ivan.

      Be careful with your use of commas (this is actually very difficult!). An important rule to remember is: don’t use a comma to connect two sentences that could exist as a sentence on their own. In these cases, you need to use 2 separate sentences OR a conjunction (e.g. and, but, so etc) OR a semicolon (;). So looking at your second example, it should be: I had been putting off a report at work, but I got round to outlining it last weekend.

      This kind of mistake is called a comma splice – if you are interested you can read more here. Remember, this is only important if writing in English is a priority for you – don’t worry too much if it isn’t 🙂

      Reply
  5. mari Avatar
    mari

    After putting off some chores like doing the laundry and the housework for at least 2 weeks ago, I finally got around to doing all of them.

    Reply

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