Can I say
Get yourself understood.
with the sense of "make yourself understood"?
Are both correct? Is there a difference in meaning between the two?
Asked
Active
Viewed 3,492 times
0
-
1Hello,MS. These Google Ngrams (yes; there are two) reinforce my initial opinion. – Edwin Ashworth Mar 06 '16 at 17:37
-
@EdwinAshworth I can see that's it's not used a lot, but is it wrong? – MasterScrat Mar 06 '16 at 18:33
-
Some related reading from the CGEL. – RegDwigнt Mar 06 '16 at 19:01
-
An answer on WordReference Forum says '[Use] "As long as you make yourself understood" [instead]. This is better.' I agree that the get-passive here is not as good. Its use would be highly informal, and probably be regarded as slang in the UK. Especially bare get-passives with non-action verbs are usually unidiomatic (Get understood / Get considered / Get regarded / Get known). – Edwin Ashworth Mar 06 '16 at 23:35
1 Answers
-2
Actually it depends to the situation. If the situation refers the future no matter how long it is to be happened, "to get understood" is correct. If the situation refers to the past, "to get understood" is absolutely wrong.
jimm101
- 10,753
-
Even if we ignore any issues with get understood, I disagree with the comment about to X being absolutely wrong with reference to the past. Consider, for example: "He went there yesterday to get some food." or, if we stick with the OP's get (himself) understood, "He posted his reasoning to get (himself) understood". – Lawrence Apr 06 '16 at 01:35