to get the car started

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

Could you please explain if "to get the car to start this morning" correct or not?
The title should be: to get the car to start
Jiang

[susiedqq]

How To Get The Car To Start

Getting The Car To Start

What I Do To Get The Car To Start

[BobK]

Either, in Br English at least. The focus of the user changes:

It took ages getting the car to start this morning. I had to clean the plugs, and even then I had to get my flatmates to bump-start it [focus on the process]

but

We finally got it started [focus on the result]

b

[jiang]

Dear BobK,

Thank you very much for your explanation. The sentence in my dictionary is:

I couldn't get the car to start this morning.

Should I understand this way:

After the whole process I wasn't able to make the car start?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

Either, in Br English at least. The focus of the user changes:

It took ages getting the car to start this morning. I had to clean the plugs, and even then I had to get my flatmates to bump-start it [focus on the process]

but

We finally got it started [focus on the result]

b

[Barb_D]

Yes, "I couldn't get the car to start" means that the car did not start, but that the person who said this made a real effort to get it to do so.

If you went out, turned the key once, and it didn't start, so you gave up and went inside, this phrase (I couldn't get the car to start) wouldn't be appropriate. You didn't go through much of a process to try.


{not a teacher}

[BobK]

If you wanted to emphasize the trouble you went to, you could say "I had trouble getting the car to start, so in the end I gave up and caught the bus".

b

[jiang]

Sorry to bother you again. I am afraid I have to ask a further question.
"If you went out, turned the key once, and it didn't start, so you gave up and went inside, this phrase (I couldn't get the car to start) wouldn't be appropriate. You didn't go through much of a process to try". In this case can I say "I couldn't get the car started" or "I couldn't get the car going"?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

Yes, "I couldn't get the car to start" means that the car did not start, but that the person who said this made a real effort to get it to do so.

If you went out, turned the key once, and it didn't start, so you gave up and went inside, this phrase (I couldn't get the car to start) wouldn't be appropriate. You didn't go through much of a process to try.


{not a teacher}

[Barb_D]

In that case, you simply say "The car didn't start."

[jiang]

Dear Barb_D,

Thank you very much for your explanation. I get a little bit confused. Could you please kindly explain when we should use "I couldn't get the car started'' and "I couldn't get the car going"?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

In that case, you simply say "The car didn't start."

[Raymott]

Dear Barb_D,

Thank you very much for your explanation. I get a little bit confused. Could you please kindly explain when we should use "I couldn't get the car started'' and "I couldn't get the car going"?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

They mean the same thing.
But, if you really want to get technical, starting a car is not the same as getting it going. If someone had stolen all your tires overnight, you'd be able to start it, but not get it going (moving).