getting registered or enrolled

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ostap77

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"I'm getting registered for the next semester."

OR

"I'm registering for the next semester.

What would be the difference between these two?

Should I use enroll for register?
 

BobK

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You could use any of these three. 'Enrol' tends to be used for longer-lasting lists - you enrol (or 'enlist'*) in the army, but register for a day-school. But that's only a tendency - you could use either in either situation.

To my ear, 'registering' for something is more suitable when the activity is more direct (e.g. online), whereas 'being registered' suggests going up to a table or filling in a form - with a clerk of some kind doing the actual thing. But again, this is just a personal view, and the two are effectively equivalent in many cases.

*Despite the generic appearance this verb has a specific meaning. An 'enlisted' person is enrolled in a military organization.

b
 

freezeframe

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Canadian perspective:

You register for a semester, but you enroll in specific classes.

Did you register for the next semester?
Yes.
What classes are you taking?
I just enrolled in English101.
 

ostap77

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Canadian perspective:

You register for a semester, but you enroll in specific classes.

Did you register for the next semester?
Yes.
What classes are you taking?
I just enrolled in English101.


Suppose I'm sitting at the secretary desk filling out application forms for the next semester. I see my friend passing by. He asks me,"What are you doing here?" I respond, "I'm getting registered for the next semester."

What would be Canadian perspective on this?
 

freezeframe

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Suppose I'm sitting at the secretary desk filling out application forms for the next semester. I see my friend passing by. He asks me,"What are you doing here?" I respond, "I'm getting registered for the next semester."

What would be Canadian perspective on this?

Sounds perfectly natural.
 

ostap77

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Sounds perfectly natural.

Talking about passives. Would you say things "a bunch of things need to be done"? Would you interpret it as "a bunch of things should be done" or "must be done"?
 

freezeframe

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Talking about passives. Would you say things "a bunch of things need to be done"? Would you interpret it as "a bunch of things should be done" or "must be done"?

Are we talking about passives? I'm not sure what the forum policy is -- should you start a new thread?


"Should be done" can be interpreted as "must be done". So, both.
 

ostap77

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