Explanation
Exercises
Causative Structures

Lesson focus

Have/get something done, have someone do, get someone to do and related causative meanings

Advanced aim: Distinguish arranged services, experienced events, persuasion, compulsion, permission and resulting states in causative patterns.

Have something done

Use have + object + past participle when you arrange for someone else to perform a service.

  • Example: We're having the ventilation system inspected next week.
  • In another context: We're having the ventilation system inspected early next quarter.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Get something done

Get + object + past participle is a common, slightly more informal causative.

  • Example: I finally got my laptop repaired yesterday.
  • In another context: Regional example: I finally got my laptop repaired yesterday.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Have someone do

Use have + person + base verb when you cause, instruct or arrange for that person to do something.

  • Example: I'll have the assistant send you the updated schedule.
  • In another context: Separate scenario: I'll have the assistant send you the updated schedule.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Get someone to do

Use get + person + to-infinitive when you persuade or arrange for someone to do something.

  • Example: We managed to get the supplier to reduce the delivery charge.
  • In another context: We managed to get the contractor to reduce the delivery charge.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Causative event, not service

Have + object + past participle can also describe an experience, often unpleasant, not necessarily an arranged service.

  • Example: She had her wallet stolen on the underground.
  • In another context: Alternative case study: She had her wallet stolen on the underground.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Get + object + adjective

Get can cause a change of state before an adjective or participial complement.

  • Example: Let's get everything ready before the clients arrive.
  • In another context: Regional example: Let's get everything ready before the clients arrive.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Make someone do

Make + object + base verb expresses strong causation or compulsion in the active.

  • Example: The delay made us reconsider the entire schedule.
  • In another context: The processing backlog made us reconsider the entire schedule.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Be made to do

In the passive, make takes to-infinitive.

  • Example: We were made to wait outside for almost an hour.
  • In another context: Follow-up case: We were made to wait outside for almost an hour.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Let someone do

Let + object + base verb expresses permission without to.

  • Example: The security staff let us leave through the side entrance.
  • In another context: Alternative case study: The security staff let us leave through the side entrance.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Help someone do/to do

Help can be followed by object + base verb or to-infinitive, with both patterns standard.

  • Example: The new software helped us reduce processing time considerably.
  • In another context: Regional example: The new software helped us reduce processing time considerably.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

C1 takeaway

Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.

Exercises:
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3

Have/get something done, have someone do, get someone to do and related causative meanings

Practice 1 · Controlled production

Complete each gap using the stated cue. Read the whole context; some items accept more than one form.

1
Use HAVE in a present form to describe an arranged future service:
We the chimney swept next week; the sweep has confirmed the appointment.
2
Use GET and REPAIR for a completed arranged service:
I finally yesterday; the watchmaker replaced the mechanism. Include MY WATCH.
3
Use HAVE and SEND to instruct an assistant:
I will the revised itinerary tonight. Include THE ASSISTANT.
4
Use GET and REDUCE for successful persuasion:
We managed to the call-out charge. Include THE INSTALLER.
5
Use HAVE in a past narrative about an adverse experience:
During the journey, she her passport stolen.
6
Use GET and READY to describe causing a state:
Please before our guests arrive. Include THE SPARE BEDROOM.
7
Use MAKE and RECONSIDER in a past narrative about compulsion:
The sudden closure our route. Include US.
8
Use MAKE in the passive:
We to remove our shoes at the laboratory entrance.
9
Use LET and LEAVE to report permission given yesterday:
The examiner five minutes early. Include ME.
10
Use HELP and REDUCE to report the upgrade's completed effect:
The new insulation heating costs last winter. Include US.

Have/get something done, have someone do, get someone to do and related causative meanings

Practice 2 · Contextual choice

Choose the option that best fits the stated meaning, viewpoint or register.

1
Someone else will repair it as an arranged service:
We're tomorrow.
2
The speaker arranged a successful repair:
I finally at a specialist workshop.
3
Express instruction through causative have:
I'll the invoices tonight.
4
Express successful persuasion:
We the venue to waive its corkage fee.
5
The event was suffered, not commissioned:
On holiday, they .
6
Cause the desired state, keeping neutral word order:
Let's before the inspection.
7
Keep the meaning of strong causation:
The sharp smell everyone leave the kitchen.
8
Retain passive compulsion:
The trainees .
9
Grant permission with let:
The guard .
10
Which completion expresses assistance and uses a standard help pattern? The tutor .

Have/get something done, have someone do, get someone to do and related causative meanings

Practice 3 · C1 challenge

Choose the interpretation or analysis that best fits the example.

1
“I had the windows cleaned.” Must I have done the cleaning?
2
“She had her bag searched.” Must she have requested the search?
3
“We got him to apologise” versus “We made him apologise.” What differs?
4
Why does “was made to wait” contain to?
5
“The app helped users find routes.” Is helped users to find also standard?
6
“I'll have someone call you.” What is being arranged?
7
“We got the car running.” What does running describe?
8
“Let me explain” compared with “Make me explain” asks for what?
9
“She had three paintings damaged in transit.” What is most likely?
10
“I repaired the sink” versus “I got the sink repaired.” What does the second leave less direct?