Understanding the Question: Completing the Sentence

The question asks us to complete the sentence fragment "What time" by choosing the correct option that describes the arrival time of a train in London. This is a test of understanding how the verb 'get' is used with different prepositions to indicate movement or arrival at a destination.

Analysing the Verb 'Get' and Prepositions

The verb 'get' is very versatile in English and can be used in many different ways. When talking about reaching a specific place or destination, 'get' is often followed by a preposition that indicates movement towards or arrival at that place.

The Correct Usage: 'Get To'

When we talk about arriving at a destination, the common and correct preposition to use with 'get' is 'to'. The phrase 'get to [a place]' means to arrive at that place.

For example:

• I usually get to work by 9 am. (I arrive at work by 9 am).
• They got to the station just in time. (They arrived at the station just in time).

Therefore, when asking about the arrival time of a train in London, the correct phrasing is "What time does this train get to London?".

Why Other Options Are Less Suitable

Let's look at why the other options are generally not used in this specific context:

• Get at: 'Get at' can mean to reach something that is difficult to access (e.g., "I can't get at the top shelf") or to imply or suggest something (e.g., "What are you getting at?"). It is not used to mean arrive at a major destination like a city.
• Get in: 'Get in' is often used for arriving home, at work, or generally arriving after travel, but usually without specifying a large destination like a city name immediately after. It can be used for arrival in a general sense or within a vehicle (e.g., "Get in the car!"). While one might say a plane "gets in" at a certain time, 'get to' is more standard when specifying the destination city directly after the verb.
• Get into: 'Get into' typically implies entering something, like a building, a car, or a situation (e.g., "Get into the house", "Get into trouble"). It can also mean to become interested in something (e.g., "He got into gardening"). It is not the standard way to express arrival at a city destination using 'get'.

Explanation of the Correct Sentence

Based on the usage of 'get' with prepositions indicating destination or arrival, the phrase "get to London" correctly conveys the idea of the train arriving at the destination, London. The sentence "What time does this train get to London?" is grammatically correct and naturally asks for the arrival time of the train.

Revision Table: Train Arrival Prepositions

Additional Information: Synonyms for Arrival

Other verbs can also be used to talk about arrival. For example, the verb 'arrive' is commonly used. 'Arrive' is typically followed by 'in' for cities or countries, and 'at' for specific places like stations or airports.

• The train arrives in London at 3 pm.
• The train arrives at the station at 3 pm.

Understanding how different verbs and prepositions are used to express arrival is important for accurate English communication. 'Get to' is a common informal way to express arrival at a destination.