Relationships

These are the verbs English uses for everything that happens between two people. Most of them end in a preposition that never moves — which is the thing to watch here.

get along with — to have a good, friendly relationship with someone.

"Do you think Alice and Jim will start dating? They get along with each other so well!" "I get along with everyone at the office."

go out with — to date someone, to be in a romantic relationship with them.

"How long have Tom and Wendy been going out with each other?" "She's been going out with him since high school."

break up with — to end a romantic relationship.

"Did you hear about Alice and Jim? They had a big fight and broke up last night." "He broke up with her after two years together."

put up with — to tolerate or endure something unpleasant.

"I don't want to put up with your snoring anymore!" "She put up with his bad moods for years."

ask someone out — to invite them on a date.

"I have tickets to the game this weekend — I'm finally going to ask Alice out!" "He was too shy to ask her out."

cheat on — to be unfaithful to your partner.

"I can't believe you cheated on me! We are finished!" "He cheated on his girlfriend and she left him."

tire someone out — to exhaust them.

"Their constant arguments are tiring me out." "The kids tired me out completely today."

Where the object goes. ask out and tire out split around the person: ask him out, tire me out. The other five don't split at all — the object always follows the whole phrase: put up with it, never "put it up with".