0
Qingqing Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

get sb. started

0How to understand the structure "get sb. started"?02br
02br
00eg. Look at the following example to get you started.02br
02br
00I wonder how this structure has been formed and how to paraphrase it. And also:02br
02br
00I know we can say "I couldn't get the car starting". But can we say "I couldn't get the car to start" or "I couldn't get the car started(what about the structure, right or wrong)"?0-
  

Top answer

0 In my humble opinion (read below):02br 01i 01b 00Get(or have in some cases) + object + past participle02b 02i 00 is used when we want to say that somebody arranges for something to be done by someone else. In your example the object is 01i 01b 00you02b 02i 00. 02br 02br 01font 00eg.

— Selecter

  • 0 In my humble opinion (read below):02br 01i 01b 00Get(or have in some cases) + object + past participle02b 02i 00 is used when we want to say that somebody arranges for something to be done by someone else.
  • In your example the object is 01i 01b 00you02b 02i 00.
  • 02br 02br 01font 00eg.
  • 02br 02font 00 0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

11 Answers
0
0 In my humble opinion (read below):02br
01i01b00Get(or have in some cases) + object + past participle02b02i00 is used when we want to say that somebody arranges for something to be done by someone else. In your example the object is 01i01b00you02b02i00. 02br
02br
01font
0
0
2br
02br
00"I couldn't get the car starting".- 01font00Starting02font00 is a present participle which is not the correct form to use. 02br
02br
01b00You can say02b00 “01b00I 02b00couldn't get the car 01i01font00started02font0
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Qingqing12cite10or "I couldn't get the car started(what about the structure, right or wrong)"?12br
12blockquote
10right02br
00It has the same meaning as:02br
00I couldn't start the car0-
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Goodman12cite12br
12br
10"I couldn't get the car starting".- 11span11font10Starting12font12span10 is a present participle which is not the correct form to use. 12br
12br
11b10You can say12b
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Selecter12cite11blockquote
11cite20Goodman22cite22br
22br
22br
20"I couldn't get the car starting".- 21font20Starting22font20 is a present participle which is not the correct form to use. 22br
22br
21b
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Goodman12cite12br
10"I couldn't get the car starting".- 11font10Starting12font10 is a present participle which is not the correct form to use. 12br
12br
11b10You can say12b10 “11b10I 12b10couldn't get the car 11i
0
0
0I can't get the car starting is incorrect. There is a big difference in context between 'can't get the car moving' and can't get the car started'. 02br
02br
00starting/moving - this mean an ongoing action. The car moves and continues to move. The car 'starts' only for a brief moment. After that it is moving or running.02br
02br
00He is just starting the c
0
0
0 There's also this meaning:02br
02br
01i00to get someone started on a topic=to encourage someone to speak02br
02br
02i00as in: 01i02br
02br
00 Don't get me started (on this)!02br
02i0-
0
0
2br
02br
02br
02br
02br
02br
02br
02br
02br
02br
00I can’t get my motorcycle to start 00 00– bare infinitive, active voice02br
02br
02br
02br
00I can’t get my motorcycle started – This is a passive voice. [started] is a past participle being used a adjective. 02br

0
0
0Thank you, Goodman. 0-
0

Related Questions