Is “getting yourself being told to” a valid sentence?












0
















Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




Is the above a valid sentence? The question is particularly about the part "getting yourself being" in this context. This phrase describes a hypothetical situation that the author of the phrase is trying to create in the imagination of the person to whom this sentence is addressed and the person in this imaginary situation found himself hearing talk of 3-rd person.










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    You need to give us a complete sample sentence, in context.

    – Hot Licks
    yesterday











  • I have explained all the context in the description. That's the entire context, there is no more context.

    – user268587
    yesterday











  • As a standalone sentence, it sounds bizarre. Unless there is additional context that explains why it's constructed the way it is, I would say it should be: Imagine being constantly told to do something. What's the purpose of getting yourself? Do you mean something like imagine constantly allowing yourself to be told what to do? But without anything coming before or after it, it still doesn't make sense. In response, I might say, "Okay, I've imagined it. And? What's your point?"

    – Jason Bassford
    yesterday













  • "Constantly being told" works. "Constantly getting yourself told" is a bit odd, but seems to imply that the person does something to provoke the 'telling'. "Getting yourself being told" doesn't work, though.

    – Kate Bunting
    22 hours ago






  • 1





    So that sentence appeared in your mail one day, with no return address???

    – Hot Licks
    13 hours ago
















0
















Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




Is the above a valid sentence? The question is particularly about the part "getting yourself being" in this context. This phrase describes a hypothetical situation that the author of the phrase is trying to create in the imagination of the person to whom this sentence is addressed and the person in this imaginary situation found himself hearing talk of 3-rd person.










share|improve this question









New contributor




user268587 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 1





    You need to give us a complete sample sentence, in context.

    – Hot Licks
    yesterday











  • I have explained all the context in the description. That's the entire context, there is no more context.

    – user268587
    yesterday











  • As a standalone sentence, it sounds bizarre. Unless there is additional context that explains why it's constructed the way it is, I would say it should be: Imagine being constantly told to do something. What's the purpose of getting yourself? Do you mean something like imagine constantly allowing yourself to be told what to do? But without anything coming before or after it, it still doesn't make sense. In response, I might say, "Okay, I've imagined it. And? What's your point?"

    – Jason Bassford
    yesterday













  • "Constantly being told" works. "Constantly getting yourself told" is a bit odd, but seems to imply that the person does something to provoke the 'telling'. "Getting yourself being told" doesn't work, though.

    – Kate Bunting
    22 hours ago






  • 1





    So that sentence appeared in your mail one day, with no return address???

    – Hot Licks
    13 hours ago














0












0








0


1







Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




Is the above a valid sentence? The question is particularly about the part "getting yourself being" in this context. This phrase describes a hypothetical situation that the author of the phrase is trying to create in the imagination of the person to whom this sentence is addressed and the person in this imaginary situation found himself hearing talk of 3-rd person.










share|improve this question









New contributor




user268587 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.













Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




Is the above a valid sentence? The question is particularly about the part "getting yourself being" in this context. This phrase describes a hypothetical situation that the author of the phrase is trying to create in the imagination of the person to whom this sentence is addressed and the person in this imaginary situation found himself hearing talk of 3-rd person.







word-usage meaning-in-context american-english






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share|improve this question









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edited yesterday









Tuffy

3,5611619




3,5611619






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asked yesterday









user268587user268587

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61




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user268587 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






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  • 1





    You need to give us a complete sample sentence, in context.

    – Hot Licks
    yesterday











  • I have explained all the context in the description. That's the entire context, there is no more context.

    – user268587
    yesterday











  • As a standalone sentence, it sounds bizarre. Unless there is additional context that explains why it's constructed the way it is, I would say it should be: Imagine being constantly told to do something. What's the purpose of getting yourself? Do you mean something like imagine constantly allowing yourself to be told what to do? But without anything coming before or after it, it still doesn't make sense. In response, I might say, "Okay, I've imagined it. And? What's your point?"

    – Jason Bassford
    yesterday













  • "Constantly being told" works. "Constantly getting yourself told" is a bit odd, but seems to imply that the person does something to provoke the 'telling'. "Getting yourself being told" doesn't work, though.

    – Kate Bunting
    22 hours ago






  • 1





    So that sentence appeared in your mail one day, with no return address???

    – Hot Licks
    13 hours ago














  • 1





    You need to give us a complete sample sentence, in context.

    – Hot Licks
    yesterday











  • I have explained all the context in the description. That's the entire context, there is no more context.

    – user268587
    yesterday











  • As a standalone sentence, it sounds bizarre. Unless there is additional context that explains why it's constructed the way it is, I would say it should be: Imagine being constantly told to do something. What's the purpose of getting yourself? Do you mean something like imagine constantly allowing yourself to be told what to do? But without anything coming before or after it, it still doesn't make sense. In response, I might say, "Okay, I've imagined it. And? What's your point?"

    – Jason Bassford
    yesterday













  • "Constantly being told" works. "Constantly getting yourself told" is a bit odd, but seems to imply that the person does something to provoke the 'telling'. "Getting yourself being told" doesn't work, though.

    – Kate Bunting
    22 hours ago






  • 1





    So that sentence appeared in your mail one day, with no return address???

    – Hot Licks
    13 hours ago








1




1





You need to give us a complete sample sentence, in context.

– Hot Licks
yesterday





You need to give us a complete sample sentence, in context.

– Hot Licks
yesterday













I have explained all the context in the description. That's the entire context, there is no more context.

– user268587
yesterday





I have explained all the context in the description. That's the entire context, there is no more context.

– user268587
yesterday













As a standalone sentence, it sounds bizarre. Unless there is additional context that explains why it's constructed the way it is, I would say it should be: Imagine being constantly told to do something. What's the purpose of getting yourself? Do you mean something like imagine constantly allowing yourself to be told what to do? But without anything coming before or after it, it still doesn't make sense. In response, I might say, "Okay, I've imagined it. And? What's your point?"

– Jason Bassford
yesterday







As a standalone sentence, it sounds bizarre. Unless there is additional context that explains why it's constructed the way it is, I would say it should be: Imagine being constantly told to do something. What's the purpose of getting yourself? Do you mean something like imagine constantly allowing yourself to be told what to do? But without anything coming before or after it, it still doesn't make sense. In response, I might say, "Okay, I've imagined it. And? What's your point?"

– Jason Bassford
yesterday















"Constantly being told" works. "Constantly getting yourself told" is a bit odd, but seems to imply that the person does something to provoke the 'telling'. "Getting yourself being told" doesn't work, though.

– Kate Bunting
22 hours ago





"Constantly being told" works. "Constantly getting yourself told" is a bit odd, but seems to imply that the person does something to provoke the 'telling'. "Getting yourself being told" doesn't work, though.

– Kate Bunting
22 hours ago




1




1





So that sentence appeared in your mail one day, with no return address???

– Hot Licks
13 hours ago





So that sentence appeared in your mail one day, with no return address???

– Hot Licks
13 hours ago










1 Answer
1






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oldest

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no this isn't valid




Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




If I was to re-word this is would replace getting with finding so:




Imagine constantly finding yourself being told to do something.




Getting involves an action from the person you are doing something to cause this, whereas finding is more passive you just spot it happening (I think).



If you do mean the "being told to do something" is because of the persons own actions, that is completely different.






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    no this isn't valid




    Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




    If I was to re-word this is would replace getting with finding so:




    Imagine constantly finding yourself being told to do something.




    Getting involves an action from the person you are doing something to cause this, whereas finding is more passive you just spot it happening (I think).



    If you do mean the "being told to do something" is because of the persons own actions, that is completely different.






    share|improve this answer




























      0














      no this isn't valid




      Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




      If I was to re-word this is would replace getting with finding so:




      Imagine constantly finding yourself being told to do something.




      Getting involves an action from the person you are doing something to cause this, whereas finding is more passive you just spot it happening (I think).



      If you do mean the "being told to do something" is because of the persons own actions, that is completely different.






      share|improve this answer


























        0












        0








        0







        no this isn't valid




        Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




        If I was to re-word this is would replace getting with finding so:




        Imagine constantly finding yourself being told to do something.




        Getting involves an action from the person you are doing something to cause this, whereas finding is more passive you just spot it happening (I think).



        If you do mean the "being told to do something" is because of the persons own actions, that is completely different.






        share|improve this answer













        no this isn't valid




        Imagine constantly getting yourself being told to do something.




        If I was to re-word this is would replace getting with finding so:




        Imagine constantly finding yourself being told to do something.




        Getting involves an action from the person you are doing something to cause this, whereas finding is more passive you just spot it happening (I think).



        If you do mean the "being told to do something" is because of the persons own actions, that is completely different.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 19 hours ago









        WendyGWendyG

        1,275212




        1,275212






















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