What Does “Get sb past sb” Mean?
“Get sb past sb” means to help someone move beyond or overcome another person, often in a competition or difficult situation.
Introduction
The phrase “Get sb past sb” is a useful English phrasal verb often used in sports, competitions, or situations involving obstacles. It means helping one person or team move ahead of another, either physically, mentally, or metaphorically. Understanding the “Get sb past sb meaning” is important because it appears in various real-life scenarios, from football matches to workplace challenges. This phrase can improve your communication by showing how one person manages to surpass or outdo another.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Get somebody past somebody
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: Help someone go beyond or overcome another person
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Get sb past sb” is a transitive phrasal verb and is inseparable. The pattern is:
- Get + somebody + past + somebody
Example: They got the striker past the defender.
You cannot separate the verb and the preposition “past” by inserting the object.
How to Use “Get sb past sb”?
Use this phrase when describing situations where one person helps or causes another person to move beyond someone else. It is common in sports, debates, or any competitive context. It can also be used metaphorically for overcoming challenges or rivalries.
Examples
Imagine a soccer game where a player moves the ball past an opponent. You could say:
- She got the attacker past the defender with a clever dribble.
- He managed to get the runner past his opponent in the final lap.
- Our team got the striker past their best defender easily.
- The coach helped get the young player past the experienced veteran.
- In negotiations, she got her argument past the skeptics.
These examples show “Get sb past sb in a sentence” used naturally in different contexts.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse this phrase with similar expressions or separate the verb incorrectly. For example:
- Incorrect: Get past him the player.
- Correct: Get the player past him.
- Incorrect: Get past the defender him.
- Correct: Get him past the defender.
Remember, the phrase is inseparable and the object must stay in the correct order.
Differences / Synonyms
Other phrasal verbs like “get past,” “pass by,” or “get around” have similar meanings but different uses.
- Get past: More general, means to move beyond an obstacle or person.
- Pass by: Usually means to move physically past something without stopping.
- Get around: Means to avoid or bypass a problem.
“Get sb past sb” specifically involves helping or causing a person to move beyond another person, often implying action or effort.
Common Collocations
This phrasal verb often appears with words related to people and competition:
- Player: Getting a player past a defender in sports.
- Defender: Overcoming a defender in a game.
- Opponent: Moving past an opponent in a race or contest.
- Rival: Surpassing a rival in business or competition.
- Barrier: Metaphorically getting someone past a barrier or challenge.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of get sb past sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “Get sb past sb”:
Anna: How did you manage to score the goal?
Ben: I got the striker past the defender with a quick feint.
Anna: That was impressive! The defender didn’t see it coming.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “get sb past sb”:
- She ______ the runner ______ the opponent in the final stretch.
- The coach helped ______ the young player ______ the experienced defender.
- They managed to ______ the attacker ______ the goalkeeper easily.
FAQs
- Q: Is “get sb past sb” separable?
A: No, it is an inseparable phrasal verb.
- Q: Can “get sb past sb” be used outside sports?
A: Yes, it can be used metaphorically in many situations.
- Q: What level is “get sb past sb” suitable for?
A: It is best for upper-intermediate learners (B2 level).
- Q: What is the difference between “get past” and “get sb past sb”?
A: “Get past” is general, while “get sb past sb” involves helping a specific person move beyond another.
- Q: Can “get sb past sb” be used in passive voice?
A: It is rarely used in passive voice because it implies active help or action.
