Causatives — have / get something done
have + object + past participle
get + object + past participle
What does the causative do?
We use the causative to say that we arrange for someone else to do a service or action for us. The focus is on the result, not on who performs it.
- Self-do We paint the house every spring.
- Causative We have the house painted every spring.
- Informal I need to get my eyes tested.
Meaning difference with the passive: The house was painted (fact, no agent) vs We had the house painted (we arranged it).
Core patterns
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| have + obj + V-ed/3 | I had my car serviced. |
| get + obj + V-ed/3 (more informal, often implies effort/success) | She got her phone repaired. |
| have + person + bare infinitive | We had the electrician check the wiring. |
| get + person + to + infinitive | I got a friend to design the logo. |
How to use it across the tenses
| Tense | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple (habit) | have/get + obj + V-ed/3 | We have the windows cleaned every month. |
| Present continuous (arranged/ongoing) | am/is/are having/getting + obj + V-ed/3 | She’s getting her kitchen renovated. |
| Past simple | had/got + obj + V-ed/3 | I had my tooth extracted yesterday. |
| Present perfect | have/has had + obj + V-ed/3 | I’ve had the brakes checked. |
| Future | will have / be going to have + obj + V-ed/3 | We’ll have the roof repaired next week. |
| Modal | should/must + have/get + obj + V-ed/3 | You should have your laptop serviced. |
| Imperative | Have/Get + obj + V-ed/3 | Have the report printed by 5 p.m. |
Negatives & questions
Have in this structure is not an auxiliary. Use do/does/did to form negatives and questions (unless another auxiliary is present).
- ✔ We don’t have our house painted.
✘ We haven’t our house painted. - ✔ Did you have your hair cut?
✘ Had you your hair cut? - ✔ She has been having her nails done lately.
Negative experiences (unpleasant passive)
We can express that something bad happened to us using the same form.
- Bad event He had his wallet stolen on the metro.
- Bad event They got their bikes damaged in the storm.
Agent phrases (by thieves) are possible but usually unnecessary.
When we mention the person who does the work
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| have + person + bare infinitive | You arrange for someone to do it. | We had the architect redesign the ground floor. |
| get + person + to + infinitive | Similar meaning; often suggests persuading or managing to make it happen. | I got a mechanic to check the noise. |
| have + person + -ing (keep/cause an action in progress) | Emphasises duration/ongoing effect. | The outage had us waiting for two hours. |
Usage hints & common pitfalls
- Body parts & belongings: use possessives: have my hair cut, get the car serviced.
- Don’t mix patterns: ✘ get my car to repaired → ✔ get my car repaired.
- With frequency: We have the gutters cleaned every autumn (habit/service).
- Register: get is more informal and can imply effort/success (Finally, we got the permit approved).
Exercises:
Causative “Have/Get” Something Done
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences below.
1
I
every month.
2
We
this afternoon.
3
She
last Friday.
4
They
next week.
5
I’ve already
— it works perfectly now.
6
You should
before a long trip.
7
He finally
after it kept freezing.
8
We
this week, so excuse the mess.
9
The CEO wants to
into Spanish.
10
Don’t
by typing the wrong password again.
Causative “Have/Get” Something Done
Choose the correct option for each gap below.
1
I need to ____ before the interview.
A.
B.
C.
2
We ____ the house painted every five years.
A.
B.
C.
3
She will ____ her phone fixed by tomorrow.
A.
B.
C.
4
They ____ the kitchen redecorated at the moment.
A.
B.
C.
5
He ____ the plumber to check the pipes yesterday.
A.
B.
C.
6
Because of the leak, we decided to ____ the roof repaired.
A.
B.
C.
7
You should ____ your eyes tested at least once a year.
A.
B.
C.
8
The manager ____ the figures double-checked before the meeting.
A.
B.
C.
9
We’re ____ the website redesigned next month.
A.
B.
C.
10
The twins ____ their bikes repaired after the race.
A.
B.
C.
Causative “Have/Get” Something Done
Complete the sentences using the correct form of have something done and the words in brackets.
1
I every six months. (service / car)
2
We cannot use the door today — I . (change / locks)
3
We yesterday, so the house smells fresh. (clean / carpets)
4
I twice this year. (check / eyes)
5
We by Friday. (translate / report / into Spanish)
6
They before the guests arrive. (deliver / furniture)
7
You at least once a year. (check / teeth)
8
When ? (repair / laptop)
9
I because it is still under warranty. (fix / phone / not)
10
While I waited, I . (wash / car)