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JIM1984 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Grammar: to get, or getting?

I tried to get a ticket, but they had all sold out.

Why is to get considered the correct form here, and why is getting ( I tried getting a ticket... .) deemed wrong?
  

Top answer

It's not wrong, you can use both. However, it does in some contexts change the meaning slightly. Your context means that you checked to see if tickets were available.

— R Williams

  • It's not wrong, you can use both.
  • However, it does in some contexts change the meaning slightly.
  • Your context means that you checked to see if tickets were available.
  • He tried to run 20 km but he wasn't fit enough.
  • He tried running in order to get fit.
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2 Answers
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It's not wrong, you can use both. It's because of the verb 'try' which can take both the infinitive and ing.However, it does in some contexts change the meaning slightly.

Your context means that you checked to see if tickets were available.

He tried to run 20 km but he wasn't fit enough.

He tried running in order to get fit.

Very subtle and quite a difficult
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R WilliamsIt's not wrong, you can use both.

Thanks, I did think both usages correct, but for some reason getting was marked as wrong on a test given on another language forum.

Very subtle and quite a difficult concept to learn.
It is subtle, that's true.

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