Page 232 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

6 get . . .ing; get + infinitive
Get .. .ingis sometimes used informally to mean 'start ...ing', especially in the expressions get moving, get going.
We'd better get moving - it's late.
With an infinitive, get can mean 'manage', 'have an opportunity' or 'be allowed'.
We didn't get to see her - she was too busy.
When do I get to meet your new boyfriend?
Get + infinitive can also suggest gradual development.
He's nice when you get to know him.
You'll get to speak English more easily as time goes by. Wayne's getting to be a lovely kid.
7 got and gotten
In British English the past participle of get is got. In American English the past participle is gotten (e.g. You've gotten us in a lot oftrouble.) except in the structure have got (see 237).
224 get (2): + object + verb form
1 causative: Don't get him talking
Get + object + .• .ing means 'make somebody/something start .. .ing'. Don't get him talking about his illnesses.
Once we got the heater going the car started to warm up.
2 causative: Get Penny to help us
Get + object + jnfinjtive means 'make somebody/something do something' or 'persuade somebody/something to do something': there is often an idea of difficulty.
I can't get that child to go to bed.
Get Penny to help us ifyou can. See ifyou can get the car to start.
For have + object + infinitive (meaning 'order/instruct somebody to do something'), see 238.1.
3 causative: get something done
Get + object + past participle can mean 'cause something to be done by somebody else'. The past participle has a passive meaning.
I must get my watch repaired. (= I want my watch to be repaired.)
I'm going to get my hair cut this afternoon. Have is used in a similar structure: see 238.2.
4 experience: We got our roof blown off
Get + object + past participle can sometimes be used in the sense of 'experience'.
We got ollr roofblown offin the storm last week.
This idea is more often expressed with have (e.g. We had our roof blown off) - see 238.3.
get (2): + object + verb form 224
page 200