This document provides examples of using "have/get something done" to express taking action to have something done by someone else, usually by paying them. It compares the phrases "She's cutting her hair" with "She's having her hair cut". Additional examples are given using "have" to express having repairs, cleaning, testing, or other services performed. A negative use is also provided to express something unwanted happening beyond one's control, like "I had my bike stolen".

1. HAVE/GET* SOMETHING
DONE
*get – informal English
(Thanks to Helena Manrubia)

2. Compare
She’s cutting her hair
She’s having her
hair cut.

3. We didn’t go to Telepizza, we
had the pizzas delivered
We didn’t paint the house, we had
it painted.
We didn’t clean the windows
ourselves, we had them
cleaned

4. 1. We make someone do something for us,
usually paying them.
I’m gonna have my room painted next week.
The air conditioning at home doesn’t work. I
must have it repaired.
I had my eyes tested yesterday at the
optician.
All tenses are possible.

5. 2. Something negative happens and we
have no control over it.
I had my bike stolen.

6. Now it’s your turn.

7. I must go to the
dry cleaner’s to …
(my suit)
I must go to the dry
cleaner’s to have my suit
cleaned.

8. My father … (the
newspaper /deliver)
… every morning.
My father has the newspaper
delivered every morning.

9. She is going to
… (her
photograph)
……
She is going to have her
photograph taken.

10. I have an
appointment at
the dentist’s to
….. (clean)
I have an appointment at the
dentist’s to have my teeth
cleaned.

11. My brother has
taken the car to
the garage to
…. (repair).
My brother has taken the car to
the garage to have it repaired.

12. You should have
… (your eyes/ test)
… once a year.
You should have your eyes
tested once a year.

13. He is going….
(his elbow/x-ray)
… tomorrow.
He is going to have his elbow
X-rayed tomorrow.

14. Our neighbours
… (their roof /
repair)… after the
storm.
Our neighbours had their roof
repaired after the storm.

15. I … (my
shopping/
deliver) ….(past
simple)
I had my shopping
delivered.

16. I must …….
(fix) ….. this
week.
I must have the computer
fixed this week.