Get to know

[Noman pervaz]

Hi everyone,
I am confused about the usage of phrase"get to know".Following are some of the examples.

1) Did you get to know about the coursework deadline?
2) When I was at school, I got to know that you are sick.
3) I donot know from where he got to know that I am studing in xyz school.

Is the usage of "get to know", in the above instances correct?
Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

No, they're all very unnatural. Generally, I only use "to get to know" when I am talking about gradually becoming familiar/friendly with another person.

"There is a new girl at work. I'm looking forward to getting to know her."
"I enjoyed getting to know you. It's a shame you're leaving the country."
"There are so many new people in my class, I haven't got time to get to know them all."

For your examples, I would use:
1) Did you find out the coursework deadline?
2) When I was at school, I found out you were sick.
3) I don't know how he found out that I'm studying at XXX school.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

I agree with emsr2d2, but I would add these thoughts.

'Get' has very many uses, so it will be with no surprise to learn that 'get to know' also has more than one meaning.

When 'get' means reach a state, 'get to know means become aware of. This is close to the meaning in 2).

When 'get' means acquire, 'get to know' means come into possession of knowledge/find out. This is close to the meaning in 3).

In 1) the 'get to' adds nothing to the meaning.

 

[Noman pervaz]

Thanks guys for answering.But then what about "came to know".Does it has same meaning as "get to know?

 

[emsr2d2]

No. The past tense of "get to know" is "got to know".
"Came to know" is the past tense of "come to know", which means something closer to "to gradually learn".

 

[Noman pervaz]

Sorry Guys, but I am still confused.For example, in the following examples, what should be used?
1a) During my first day of class, I "found out/got to know/came to know/know" that aeroplane was made by xxxx.
2) I had been researching on internet for five hours, when I "found out/got to know/came to know/knew" that water is made up of xxx.

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry Guys, but I am still confused.For example, in the following examples, what should be used?
1a) During my first day of class, I "found out/got to know/came to know/know" that aeroplane was made by xxxx.
2) I had been researching on internet for five hours, when I "found out/got to know/came to know/knew" that water is made up of xxx.

During my first day of class, I found out/learnt/learned that the aeroplane was invented by XXX.
I had been doing research on the internet for five hours when I finally discovered/learnt/learned that water is made up of XXX and YYY.

 

[emsr2d2]

Please correct the information in your member profile, specifically the "Current Location" section. I am closing this thread for now. Feel free to open a new thread once your profile is correct.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for correcting that information. I have reopened the thread.