get someone to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get someone to" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to express the act of causing someone to do something or to assist someone in doing something. Example: "I need to get someone to paint my house before the party next weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

'Get someone to help you.

The Guardian

Get someone to watch the watchers.

The Guardian - Opinion

This might, maybe, get someone to care," he said.

The Guardian

"It's very tough to get someone to retract a paper".

The New York Times

Now she can't even get someone to mark her papers!

The Guardian

"How do you get someone to gamble on you?

The New York Times

"You can always get someone to play ball.

The New York Times - Sports

"How can you get someone to read your paper?

The New York Times - Science

"How do you get someone to look at something?

The New York Times - Arts

"I'm not trying to get someone to fill my shoes".

The New York Times - Sports

Teams changed their lineups to get someone to stop Shaq".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "get someone to", ensure the context clearly indicates who is performing the action and what the action is. This prevents ambiguity and ensures effective communication.

Common error

Ensure that the sentence structure clearly indicates the intended subject of the action. Misunderstandings can arise if it's unclear who is supposed to perform the action after you "get someone to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get someone to" functions as a causative verb construction. It indicates that the subject is causing or arranging for another person to perform an action. Ludwig's examples show its versatility in various contexts, reinforcing this primary function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

30%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "get someone to" is a versatile and common expression used to indicate causing or requesting someone to perform an action. Grammatically correct and widely accepted, as Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in diverse contexts, from news and media to scientific and how-to guides. When writing, ensure clarity by specifying the subject and action to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "persuade someone to" or "convince someone to" can offer nuanced variations. By understanding its function and context, you can confidently and effectively use "get someone to" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

persuade someone to

Focuses on convincing someone through reasoning or enticement.

convince someone to

Implies a stronger effort to change someone's mind.

encourage someone to

Suggests inspiring someone to take action.

motivate someone to

Highlights providing a reason or incentive for action.

induce someone to

Involves influencing someone, sometimes subtly.

entice someone to

Emphasizes attracting someone with something desirable.

prompt someone to

Suggests initiating an action from someone.

prevail on someone to

Involves persuading someone after some resistance.

influence someone to

Focuses on having an effect on someone's actions.

arrange for someone to

Emphasizes the planning and organization to ensure someone does something.

FAQs

How can I use "get someone to" in a sentence?

The phrase "get someone to" is used to indicate that you are asking or instructing someone to do something. For example, "I need to get someone to fix the car" means you need to find someone and ask them to fix the car.

What are some alternatives to "get someone to"?

Alternatives include "persuade someone to", "convince someone to", or "ask someone to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "got someone to" instead of "get someone to"?

"Got someone to" is the past tense form of "get someone to". Both are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the time frame you're referring to. "Get someone to" is present/future, while "got someone to" is past.

What's the difference between "get someone to do something" and "have someone do something"?

Both phrases imply causing someone to perform an action, but "get someone to do something" often implies more effort or persuasion is needed, while "have someone do something" suggests more authority or a pre-existing arrangement.