The Causative Form subject + have / get + object + past participle is used to suggest that we are asking, paying or instructing someone to do something for us.
I will have my car repaired. (not I myself but the mechanic will do the work)
I cut my hair yesterday. It was a disaster!
→ I had my hair cut yesterday. Do you like it?
I finally had my leaking roof repaired last week.
They must have their car’s exhaust fixed. What a noise!
I’m having my wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow.
She‘s had her nose altered I think.
You need to get your car fixed before the holidays.
I must get this knee of mine seen to by the doctor.
Don’t print the files, please!
→ Don’t have the files printed, please!
Somebody is going to water the flowers for her.
→ She is going to have the flowers watered.
Your hair needs cutting.
→ You will have to have your hair cut.
→ You should have your hair cut.
I’m having my house decorated.
→ My house is being decorated.
→ Someone is decorating my house for me.
Is anyone checking your answers?
→ Are you having your answers checked?
The dentist filled her tooth.
→ She had / got her tooth filled.
→ Her tooth was filled.
I hate her asking someone else to do her homework.
→ I hate her having her homework done by someone else.
I’d love it if someone cut the grass for me.
→ I’d love to have the grass cut.
The hairdresser permed my hair.
→ I got my hair permed at the hairdresser’s.
Virtually every person in my road has had / has got a burglar alarm fitted recently.
You should have / get your trousers taken in now that you have lost weight.
He had / got his car stolen. (used to describe an accident or misfortune)
I had / got my TV and stereo taken.
While skiing I had my ankle twisted.
Mary had her dog run over.
They had their wallets stolen on vacation.
People will think more carefully about committing a crime if they know they are going to get themselves arrested.
get + object + past participle can be used to mean finish doing something.
I must get my homework done over the weekend.
get + object + to infinitive means make or persuade someone somebody to do something.
The coach got the players to train hard for five hours every day.
See if you can get John and Mary to join us at the concert tonight.
get + object + present participle (-ing) is used informally to mean make somebody / something start doing something.
Once you get her talking about her boyfriend, she never stops.
** get moving / get going (without an object)
have + object + bare infinitive is used for giving instructions or orders.
The teacher had the pupils do the exercises in class.
want and need are also used with an object and a past participle, to indicate that you would like or need something to be done.
I want the room cleaned.
I need the reports checked.
| Go on to…. How To Use Causative Verbs In English |
