Should it be "getting a heart attack" instead?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

The last thing we want is the accused person to get a heart attack in Changi Medical Centre while under investigation.

Shouldn’t it be “getting a heart attack”?

Thanks .

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2

Yes, except that I think “have” would be more common than “get”.

“The last thing we want is for the accused person to have a heart attack…”
Or
“The last thing we want is the accused person having a heart attack…”

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I don’t think ‘get a heart attack’ is collocational. Arinker has it right - ‘have a heart attack’!

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4

Thanks for the suggestion, but no thank you.

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Sorry @Arinker, I couldn’t grasp the second part of your reply.

By the way, what @Kohyoongliat wanted to know is the appropriateness of an infinitive (to get) or a gerund (getting). Here I would go for the infinitive which alone verbs like ‘want’ can take!

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6

Sorry for my vague attempt at humor.

The quote sounds like a suggestion, such as:
“Have a good day!”
“Have a piece of candy.”
“Have a heart attack!”

If I have a choice, I would choose the first or second.

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7

Thanks for the clarification! I’ll accept the first for I am not young enough to have the second! :innocent:

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