2. HAVE / GET SOMETHING DONE
Use: We use this structure to talk about
things other people do for us. We can
add by + agent and use the structure in
a variety of tenses.
• I (don’t) get / have my hair cut very
often.
• Where do you get your hair cut?
• My father is having his car repaired
today.
• Penny will get her suit cleaned
3. HAVE / GET SOMETHING DONE
Tip: We also use have/get something
done when somebody does something
to us that we didn’t want or ask for,
often something bad.
e.g. Sergei got his passport stolen
yesterday. (A thief stole it.)
4. HAVE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING
Use: We use this structure to talk about
making someone do something.
• The customs officer had me open my
suitcase.
• I’m sorry about the mess in your
room, sir. I’ll have someone clean it
immediately.
• Gerald’s having a tailor make a winter
5. GET SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING
Use: We use this structure to talk about
making someone do something.
• I got the children to clear out their
rooms yesterday.
• When you go to the shop, get them
to give your money back.
• The secretary will get the patients
to fill in the forms.
6. MAKE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING
FORM USE EXAMPLES
make + somebody
+ V
to force somebody
to do something
My boss makes me finish the
daily report before I go home.
I made my little sister give me
half of her candy.
Our teacher is making us bring
our homework to him
tomorrow.
*Passive: I’m made to finish the
daily report before I go home.
7. MAKE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING
FORM USE EXAMPLESlet+somebody+verb
toallowsomebodytodosth.
My boss let me leave early from work.
They are going to let me enter the ancient
text archives to do research.
Jamie always lets her kids have parties on
the weekends.
Ralph is going to let his son go to the
concert.
*Passive: Let is not used in the passive
structure, but ‘be allowed to do
something’ is used instead.
Active: John let me drive the new car.