get my car

[QiQi]

1. I can’t get my car running on cold mornings.
2. I can't get my car to run on cold mornings.
3. I can't get my car run on cold mornings. (past participle)

Are they all correct?
I think 3 may not be correct?

Many thanks in advance.

[Pete]

1. I can’t get my car running on cold mornings.
2. I can't get my car to run on cold mornings.
3. I can't get my car run on cold mornings. (past participle)

Are they all correct?
I think 3 may not be correct?

Many thanks in advance.

As you suggest, number 3 is not correct. The first two are OK.

[MyESLTutor]

An alternative to number 3 would be:

My car will not run on cold mornings.

[OddThomas]

The phrase I can't get my car to run tells the listener that the speaker's efforts do not produce results. No matter how the speaker tries, the car refuses to run.

My car will not run says that the only participant is the car. We do not know whether the speaker tries to make the car run. This is still a good sentence, but it is not equivalent to the first.

[QiQi]

My car will not run says that the only participant is the car. We do not know whether the speaker tries to make the car run. This is still a good sentence, but it is not equivalent to the first.

Thank you, OddThomas.

1. My comupter doesn't work.
2. My comupter isn't working.
3. My comupter won't work.

I was told , in 1, "my computer" itself has something wrong (mainly mechnically); in 2, "my computer" has something wrong at present, maybe it will work after a restart; in 3, it stresses the operator's personal efforts, however he operates, he can't make the computer run, but it does not mean others can't make it run, and I have been regarding it as such. But it seems I am wrong with 3?

[Marius Hancu]

1. My computer doesn't work. [this is most of the time, on a regular basis

2. My computer isn't working.[this is now, shown by present continuous

3. My computer won't work. [you personalize the computer, assign a will to it, as if it doesn't want to work.

[QiQi]

Thank you, Marius Hancu.

A last question of this thread:

1. I can't get my car started.
2. I can't get my car to start.
3. I can't get my car starting.
This time, I think both 1 and 2 are correct, but 3 isn't. Am I right?

[OddThomas]

I can understand the point you make about doesn't work and won't work.

Doesn't suggests mere failure. Won't suggests failure after some effort, or failure with a reason.

Isn't is neutral regarding effort or reason, and as both you and Marius say, is temporary and may be different in a moment.

In this sentenceMy computer won't work.
we don't know, really, whether the operator has put personal effort into it. The computer may have failed for a reason known to the operator.My computer won't work [because its power supply died].
It doesn't always have to beMy computer won't work [despite my best efforts].

For your second question, yes #1 and #2 are best. #3 is incorrect.

I think I would use to start while I was in the act of trying. I would use started after I had tried.
Turning the key yet again, Mario said to Jack, "I can't get my car to start."
Throwing his keys on the ground with disgust, Mario complained, "I can't get my car started!"

[QiQi]

Thank you again!