Have something done

1. HAVE SOMETHING DONEHAVE SOMETHING DONE
Causative passive

2. Compare these situations:Compare these situations:
Clare decorated the
room. She did it
herself.
Steve is repairing his
son’s bicycle.
Clare had the room
decorated. A
decorator did the
work.
Steve is having his
son’s bicycle
repaired. A bike
mechanic is repairing
it.

3. Look at these examples:Look at these examples:
HAVE SOMETHING DONE
You should have your car serviced regularly.
Mark usually has his suits cleaned at the
drycleaner’s.
We had the television repaired only last year.
You’ve had your hair cut.
Our neighbours are having a new garage built.
Is Melanie having a new cooker installed?

4. get something doneget something done
The use of get is more informal.
We must get another key made for the
office.
Laura got her shoes repaired.
We’re getting the carpet cleaned.
Where did you get your hair cut?
Do you get your homework checked
before handing it in?

5. havehave meaningmeaning to experience somethingto experience something
The same structure can be used with the
meaning experience something, often
something unpleasant.
We had all our money stolen.
The car had it’s mirror broken off.

6. have someone do somethinghave someone do something
In this case we ask or pay someone to do
something for us.
I had my mom mend my trousers for
me.
She’s going to have her boyfriend book
the tickets.
In the end Paul didn’t have his teacher
correct the letter for him.

7. build clean cut paint renewbuild clean cut paint renew
repair servicerepair service
1. We ___ our flat ___ next month.
2. A: Your hair looks fantastic! B: Thanks. I
___ it ___ yesterday.
3. My coat is really dirty. I need to ___ it ___ .
4. You should ___ your car ___ every 10,000
kilometers.
5. A: Our fridge is broken. B: Are you going
to buy a new one or ___ it ___.
6. I’ll need to ___ my passport ___ before my
next holiday.
7. Our neighbour is ___ a new garage ___ at
the moment.

8. 1. We are having our flat painted next
month.
2. A: Your hair looks fantastic! B: Thanks. I
had / got it cut yesterday.
3. My coat is really dirty. I need to have it
cleaned.
4. You should have your car serviced every
10,000 kilometers.
5. A: Our fridge is broken. B: Are you going
to buy a new one or have it repaired?
6. I’ll need to have my passport renewed
before my next holiday.
7. Our neighbour is having a new garage
built at the moment.

9. Think of something you have had done
recently. Write a couple of sentences.
Think of someone you have had do
something for you. Write a couple of
sentences.

10. Think of something you have had done
recently. Write a couple of sentences.
Think of someone you have had do
something for you. Write a couple of
sentences.