This document provides information and examples about using "have something done" and "get something done" structures in English. It discusses how these structures imply that someone else will perform an action for you or that you will hire someone else to do it. The key differences compared to active sentences are highlighted. Examples are given to illustrate using "have/get" with different verbs like "cut", "wash", "repair". Exercise sentences are also provided to practice these structures.

1. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE
CHIMBORAZO
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACION, HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS
CARRERA DE IDIOMAS
GRAMMAR VI
Have/Get Something Done
Dario Amancha
Ronald Marroquín
2015-2016

2. "Have Something Done"
 Passive in meaning but not in form
 Get or have in place of the verb to be
 Situations where we want someone else to do something
for us or where we are going to hire someone else to do
something for us.
 The result is more important than the person who performs
the activity.

3. Compare
 Lisa repaired the roof.
 Lisa had the roof repaired.
 Did you make those curtains yourself?
 Did you have those courtains made?

4. Structure
have + something (the object) + past participle
• I have my business taken care of.
(Somebody is taking care of my business.)
• He has his dog walked.
(Somebody walks his dog.)

5.  The living room in Terry's new house is a terrible salmon
pink color. She wants to have it painted before she moves
in.
 Lizzy can't talk right now. She's having her hair cut by the
barber at the moment.
 I need to go to the dentist today to have a tooth pulled. I
hope it's very fast!

6. Get something done (informal)
 When are you going to get the roof repaired?
 I think you should get your hair cut really short.

7. If the verb refers to something unwanted, it has
the same meaning as a passive sentence.
 Jim had his car stolen last night.
 Jim's car was stolen.
 They had their roof blown off in the storm.
 Their roof was blown off in the storm.

8. EXERCISES
Yesterday, (I / cut / my hair) ……………………………………….
Every Friday, (Joe / wash / his car)……………………………….
Tomorrow, (she / repair / her shower)………………………………….
Each Saturday, (we / deliver / a pizza)………………………………………..….to our home.
Last year, (Bob / clean / his house)…………………………………………...by a charwoman.
As Phil had a broken arm, (he / type / his texts)…………………….......................by his
secretary.
I had my hair cut.
Joe has his car washed
she is going to have her shower
repaired.
we have a pizza delivered
he had his texts typed
Bob had his house cleaned

9. •(I / pick up / the goods)………………………………………...tomorrow in the afternoon.
•(we / redecorate / our walls)……………………………..……….last summer.
•Whenever Clara is staying at this hotel, (she / carry / her
bags)………………………...........into her room.
•(we / organise / our last party)……………………………………………...by professionals.
•We usually ……………………………………….… (the bedrooms / redecorate) every two
years.
will have the goods picked
up
had our walls redecorated
has her bags carried
We had our last party
organised
have the bedrooms
redecorated

10. •Sarah isn't making her own wedding dress, she ……………………………………………. (it / make) by a designer in Italy.
………………………………………………. (you / ever/ anything / steal) from your house?
•He didn't fix his car himself, he ……………………………………. (it / fix) at the garage.
 Your hair is too long. You need ………………………. (it / cut).
•I'm going to do my food shopping online and I ………………………………………………….………….
(the food / deliver) to my house.
is having it made
Have you ever had anything stolen
had it fixed
to have it cut
am going to have the food delivered