[Grammar] Phrasing of this sentence

[infinity42]

Hello, I was wondering if the sentence structure or phrasing of this sentence feels slightly "off":

"I've got her taking care of my children, always making sure they eat properly, and then she leaves to her other part-time job."

Please leave any feedback. I'm curious to know your thoughts.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would change "to" at the end to "for".

 

[tedmc]

Shouldn't the present tense/infinitive be better for the first two parts since the last part is in the present tense?

I've got her to take care of my children, always make sure they eat properly, before she leaves for her other part-time job.

 

[MikeNewYork]

No. I don't see any improvement there.

 

[Tdol]

How about:

I've got her taking care of my children, always making sure they've eaten properly before she leaves for her other part-time job.

 

[infinity42]

Thank you for all your feedback. Much appreciated!

 

[Matthew Wai]

I've got her to take care of my children, always make sure they eat properly...

I would add 'and' before 'always', but I am not a teacher.

 

[Rover_KE]

infinity, please note that a better title would have been I've got her taking care of my children...

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[infinity42]

I apologize. I'll be more careful next time.

 

[tedmc]

I would add 'and' before 'always', but I am not a teacher.

"And" is not required because the second part is not a different item, merely an elaboration of the same point.

 

[Matthew Wai]

an elaboration of the same point.

I think 'take care of them' is not necessarily the same thing as 'make sure they eat properly', but I am not a teacher.

 

[tedmc]

I think 'take care of them' is not necessarily the same thing as 'make sure they eat properly', but I am not a teacher.

Taking care of the children is the task; making sure they eat properly is being more specific.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think the former could include many tasks and the latter is one of them, but I am not a teacher.

 

[tedmc]

Are you saying that Tdol's sentence is also not correct since he did not use the conjunction "and" as you insist?

 

[Matthew Wai]

Are you tempting me to criticize Tdol's sentence?

 

[mawes12]

I think 'and' is optional and 'I've got her taking care of my kids' sounds better. If you want to use an infinitive verb, I think you should say I've made her take care of my kids.

Not a teacher.

 

[tedmc]

Are you tempting me to criticize Tdol's sentence?

The question is uncalled for.

mawes
I think there is a difference between "get somebody to do something" and "make somebody do something". The latter implies some degree of compulsion. Why is the continuous form.of the verb better than the infinitive?

 

[Matthew Wai]

Why is the continuous form.of the verb better than the infinitive?

I don't think the -ing form is a continuous form, but I am not a teacher.

The question is uncalled for.

The question is an apt response to the question above it.

 

[tedmc]

I don't think the -ing form is a continuous form, but I am not a teacher.


The question is an apt response to the question above it.

We'll see what the teachers/moderators have to say about what you have said.

 

[Matthew Wai]

And about what you have said too.