Timeline for “Get something to work” vs ”Get something working”
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
6 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Aug 27, 2013 at 23:15 | history | edited | TrevorD | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Amplified answer following comments received.
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| Aug 26, 2013 at 14:32 | comment | added | TrevorD | @JanusBahsJacquet Cont'd ... As regards "can't/couldn't" v. "didn't" I also agree: I was just concentrating on the to work/working bit rather than the verb! If you've no objections, I'll amend my answer to incorporate your ideas, when I have a little more time. | |
| Aug 26, 2013 at 14:30 | comment | added | TrevorD | I agree (and meant to say) that the first expression could be used in the second scenario. I also agree that setting up a TV set is a good example for the first scenario - where you had not previously had it working (either at all or in that scenario). That is sort of the thing I had in mind when talking of "putting some electrical [or electronic] ... components together to achieve a particular objective"; i.e. you're putting something together for the first time rather than fixing something that stopped working. I just couldn't think of a good example previously. cont'd ... | |
| Aug 26, 2013 at 14:10 | comment | added | Janus Bahs Jacquet | I think I can see the difference you are mentioning here, but I have to admit that I could also easily imagine “I didn’t get it to work” being used in the second of your scenarios. If the auxiliary is switched from ‘did’ to ‘could’, the difference becomes slightly sharper to my ears: “I can’t/couldn’t get it to work” sounds more like someone trying to set up a new TV set for the first time, for example, than like someone repairing a previously working one—it would be more awkward for the latter case than “I didn’t get it to work” would be, at least. | |
| Aug 26, 2013 at 13:43 | vote | accept | John V | ||
| Aug 26, 2013 at 13:36 | history | answered | TrevorD | CC BY-SA 3.0 |