top of page
Press Play to hear me read Can I Get?Anita Brooke
00:00 / 01:33

Can I Get?

 

I love young people, I really do, their sheer vitality

I value their enthusiasm and boundless energy

But if I had to find a fault, I know what it would be

It’s how they place an order - it really bothers me

 

When I overhear a person say “can I get a beer”

It makes me want to intervene, I want to bend their ear

“Can I get a latte?”, “Can I just get a sandwich?”

This phrase is contributing to the demise of the English language

 

It’s just not proper grammar, don’t they know what get implies?

They’re using the wrong verb but don’t seem to realise

The customer doesn’t get things, the server does the getting

I think it’s time to point it out, this parlance needs correcting

 

If I was serving someone and they used get in this way

I think I’d have a bit of fun, I’d love the chance to say

“No, no, I’ll get it for you - honestly, that’s why I’m here

But if you want to serve yourself, feel free to pour the beer”

 

I’m sure I’m not the only one, is it only me?

Am I super-sensitive, a snob linguistically?

I wonder how this turn of phrase became the common way

I think I know the culprit though - I blame the USA!

​

​

(To be fair, it's not only young people so apologies if I offended anyone!)

bottom of page