get something to do / ing

[sky3120]

In the end, we got the children clearing the playground.

In the end, we got the children to clear the playground.

I think there is not much difference in meaning between them. What do you think about it? Thank you so much and have a good day.

[charliedeut]

Hi,

They mean pretty much the same, IMO, although I sense there might be more than one reading for #1 (for instance, since you ask, there were more children in hte playground, but you only got [to get into the bus] those who were clearing it). This other reading is somewhat far-fetched, but even so...

charliedeut

[Barb_D]

The first isn't very natural. It suggests to me there was a bit of a problem, which you overcame.
When we first showed up, the supplies hadn't been delivered and half the work crew got stuck in traffic. Finally, though, we got the children clearning the playground while the adults started to dig the holes for the footers for the new playground equipment.

The second implies that you had to coerce the children in some way. They didn't want to, but you convinced them to do it.