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:
1
2
3

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

1
Write the missing grammar chunk so the sentence matches the cue: [Have something done]
We're _____ in the coming review cycle.
2
Fill the gap with the form that best fits the intended register and meaning: [Get something done]
Separate scenario: I finally _____ yesterday.
3
Complete the gap with the form that best expresses the stated C1 meaning: [Have someone do]
Follow-up case: I'll _____ you the updated schedule.
4
Supply the missing structure. Choose the form that preserves the intended viewpoint: [Get someone to do]
Alternative case study: We managed to _____ the delivery charge.
5
Complete the sentence with the most precise form for this context: [Causative event, not service]
Regional example: She _____ on the underground.
6
Write the missing grammar chunk so the sentence matches the cue: [Get + object + adjective]
Separate scenario: Let's _____ before the clients arrive.
7
Fill the gap with the form that best fits the intended register and meaning: [Make someone do]
The supply interruption _____ the entire schedule.
8
Complete the gap with the form that best expresses the stated C1 meaning: [Be made to do]
Alternative case study: We _____ outside for almost an hour.
9
Supply the missing structure. Choose the form that preserves the intended viewpoint: [Let someone do]
Regional example: The security staff _____ through the side entrance.
10
Complete the sentence with the most precise form for this context: [Help someone do/to do]
Separate scenario: The new software _____ processing time considerably.

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

1
Select the option that best expresses the stated relationship: [Have something done]
We're _____ later this month.
2
Which form is the best fit for this context? [Get something done]
Follow-up case: I finally _____ yesterday.
3
Choose the most precise completion for the sentence: [Have someone do]
Alternative case study: I'll _____ you the updated schedule.
4
Choose the option that best matches the intended meaning: [Get someone to do]
Regional example: We managed to _____ the delivery charge.
5
Select the form that preserves the intended viewpoint and register: [Causative event, not service]
Separate scenario: She _____ on the underground.
6
Select the option that best expresses the stated relationship: [Get + object + adjective]
Follow-up case: Let's _____ before the clients arrive.
7
Which form is the best fit for this context? [Make someone do]
The approval delay _____ the entire schedule.
8
Choose the most precise completion for the sentence: [Be made to do]
Regional example: We _____ outside for almost an hour.
9
Choose the option that best matches the intended meaning: [Let someone do]
Separate scenario: The security staff _____ through the side entrance.
10
Select the form that preserves the intended viewpoint and register: [Help someone do/to do]
Follow-up case: The new software _____ processing time considerably.

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

1
What is the main reason for the highlighted grammatical choice?
We're having the ventilation system inspected during the next phase.
A.
B.
C.
2
Why is the highlighted form the best fit in this context?
Alternative case study: I finally got my laptop repaired yesterday.
A.
B.
C.
3
Which explanation best captures the effect of the highlighted form?
Regional example: I'll have the assistant send you the updated schedule.
A.
B.
C.
4
Which interpretation of the highlighted grammar is most accurate?
Separate scenario: We managed to get the supplier to reduce the delivery charge.
A.
B.
C.
5
What does the highlighted structure contribute to the sentence?
Follow-up case: She had her wallet stolen on the underground.
A.
B.
C.
6
What is the main reason for the highlighted grammatical choice?
Alternative case study: Let's get everything ready before the clients arrive.
A.
B.
C.
7
Why is the highlighted form the best fit in this context?
The technical hold-up made us reconsider the entire schedule.
A.
B.
C.
8
Which explanation best captures the effect of the highlighted form?
Separate scenario: We were made to wait outside for almost an hour.
A.
B.
C.
9
Which interpretation of the highlighted grammar is most accurate?
Follow-up case: The security staff let us leave through the side entrance.
A.
B.
C.
10
What does the highlighted structure contribute to the sentence?
Alternative case study: The new software helped us reduce processing time considerably.
A.
B.
C.