Is “getting yourself being told to” a valid sentence?
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
New contributor
|
show 2 more comments
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
New contributor
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
|
show 2 more comments
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
New contributor
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
word-usage meaning-in-context american-english
New contributor
New contributor
edited yesterday
Tuffy
3,5611619
3,5611619
New contributor
asked yesterday
user268587user268587
61
61
New contributor
New contributor
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
|
show 2 more comments
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
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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.
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
user268587 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f484178%2fis-getting-yourself-being-told-to-a-valid-sentence%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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.
add a comment |
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.
add a comment |
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.
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.
answered 19 hours ago
WendyGWendyG
1,275212
1,275212
add a comment |
add a comment |
user268587 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user268587 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user268587 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
user268587 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f484178%2fis-getting-yourself-being-told-to-a-valid-sentence%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
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