Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner1]

Hello,

'I had better take a taxi in order to arrive at/reach/get to the meeting on time.'

Do 'arrive at', 'reach' and 'get to' fit here?

Thank you very much.

[myprofe]

Reach the meeting would not be correct because a meeting is not a place.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[learner1]

Hello myprofe,

Thank you very much for your help.
I'm a littel confused about your answer. Do you mean 'arrive at' and 'get to' can be used here? Since 'a meeting' is not a place as you said, why could 'arrive at' and 'get to' be used here?

Thank you very much.

[myprofe]

I understand your confusion. Of the three options you listed, only reach would not be used in that sentence.

In my webpage I refer to words like this as similar but different. In some cases several words can be used but in other occasions and for no apparent reason only one or two are commonly used. Sometimes there's an explanation but often there is none.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[learner1]

Hello myprofe,

Thank you for your quick reply. I am a little surprised!
I have one more question. I would like to know which of these are fine in the sentence. e.g.

'Would you please tell me how to get to/arrive at/reach xxxairport from here?'
(When you are on the street and is asking someone)

Thank you very much.

[myprofe]

Most Common: Would you please tell me how to get to the airport from here?

Also possible: Would you please tell me how to reach the airport from here?

Arrive is not possible here because this verb does not refer to the journey (movement) itself but rather the result, final position or location.
_________________
I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes!

[learner1]

Hello myprofe,

Thank you very much. It is a great explanation!