Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

I have two sentences to do with the word "start"

1.I�m not sure where to start with my project.
2. Here are a few suggestions on how to reduce the greenhouse gas. They should get you started with your project.

My question is why we should use past participle form in Example 2. Can I use "to start" instead as follows?

They should get you to start with your project.

Thanks

[Eric Thompson]

Dear jasonlulu_2000: Grammar rules work most of the time, but sometimes there are no real 'rules' just unwritten rules, like in your sentences. (1) Infinitive phrases (like 'to start') generally follow words like 'where', 'when', 'how', 'what' (but not 'why') when they don't start sentences. I haven't seen that 'rule' written anywhere, it's just something I noticed now. (2) The verb 'get' is a common, simple word, but it has two quite different meanings. One is to 'receive', but the other is a 'linking verb', which means to 'become'. Like 'I'll get ready now'. 'Ready' here is an adjective: the adjective form of 'start' is 'started', the past participle. So 'started' is used after 'get'. Whew! Understand? or Confusing? -- Eric