Have Something Done

Have something done NET Coacalco English Department Semestre B 08/09

A. Study this example situation: Have something done The roof of Bill’s house was damaged in a storm, so he arranged for a worker to repair it. Yesterday the worker came and did the job. Bill had the roof repaired yesterday. This means: Bill didn’t repair the roof himself. He arranged for someone else to do it for him.

Bill had the roof repaired . ( = he arranged for someone to do it)

Bill repaired the roof. ( = he did it himself)

Compare: Have something done

Now study these sentences:

Did Kevin paint the living room himself or did he have it painted ?

Are you going to repair the car yourself or are you going to have it repaired ?

Have something done

To say that we arrange for someone else to do something for us, we use the structure have something done . The word order is important: the past participle ( done/repaired , etc.) comes afte r the object ( the roof ): Have something done have + object + past participle Bill had the roof repaired yesterday Where did you have your hair done? We're having the house painted right now. Tom has just had a telephone installed in his house. How often do you have your car serviced? Why don't you have that coat cleaned? I want to have my picture taken.

Exercises I: Answer the questions in the way shown. Example: “ Did Liz make that dress herself?” “No, she had it made .” “ Did you cut your hair yourself?” “No, I __________________________.” “ Did they paint the house themselves?” “No, they _______________.” “ Did Jim cut down that tree himself?” “No, ______________________.” “ Did Sue repair the car herself?” “No, ___________________________.” had it cut had it painted he had it cut down she had it repaired Have something done

Exercise II: This time complete the sentences. Use the words in parentheses (. . .) .

Examples: We ‘re having the house painted (the house/painted) at the moment.

Did you have your hair cut (you/your hair/cut) last week?

Your hair is too long. I think you should _________________ (it/cut).

How often ______________________________ (you/yourcar/tune up)?

The engine in Tom’s car couldn’t be repaired, so he had to _________________________ (a new engine/put in).

Continue on the next slide.

have it cut do you have your car tuned up have a new engine put in Have something done

______________________________________ (you/your newspaper/deliver) or do you buy it yourself at the store?

A: What are those workers doing at your garden?

B: Oh, I _______________________________ (a swimming pool/build).

6. A: Can I see the pictures you took on your vacation?

B: I’m afraid not. I _______________________________ (not/the film/develop) yet .

7. Is it true that many years ago he ________________________ (his portrait/paint) by a famous artist?

Do you have your newspaper delivered ‘ m having a swimming pool built haven’t had the film developed had his portrait painted Have something done

Exercise III: Now read each situation and then write a sentence with have something done.

Examples: Jill’s coat was dirty, so she took it to the cleaners. Now it is clean. What has Jill done? She has had her coat cleaned .

Tom thinks his eyesight is getting worse, so he’s going to the eye doctor. What is Tom going to do there?

_________________ _______________________.

2. Sue is at the beauty parlor at the moment. A hairdresser is cutting her hair. What is Sue doing? _________________________.

3. Ann’s watch was broken, so she took it to the jeweler. Now it’s working again. What has Ann done?

_________________________ ________.

He’s going to have his eyesight checked She’s having her hair cut She has had her watch repaired Have something done

Have something done

“ Get something done” is possible instead of having something done (mainly in informal spoken English):

I think you should get your hair cut. ( = have your hair cut)

B

Have something done

Have something done sometimes has a different meaning. For example:

He had all his money stolen while he was on vacation.

This doesn’t mean that he arranged for somebody to steal his money! “He had all his money stolen” means only: “All his money was stolen.”

With this meaning, we use have something done to say that something (often something not nice) happened to someone:

Melissa had her leg broken in an accident. ( = her leg was broken)

C

Exercise IV: Now use have something done with its second meaning.

Examples: George’s nose was broken in a fight. What happen to George? He had his nose broken in a fight .

John’s wallet was stolen from his pocket. What happened to John?

__________________ _______________________.

2. Fred’s hat was blown off by the wind What happened to Fred? _____________________________________.

Carol’s passport was taken from her at the police station. What happen to Carol?

___________________________________________________ ________.

He had his wallet stolen from his pocket He had his hat blown off by the wind She had her passport taken from her at the police station Have something done

Richard C Miller: “Even if at first you do succeed, you still have to work hard to stay there.” Have something done Good luck kids!