Causative: have / get something done

Rules

• Rule 1: have + object + past participle

  The order is very important: first have, then the object, then the past participle.

  Pattern: subject + have + object + past participle

  Example: We had our car repaired.

  Example: She has her piano tuned every year.

• Rule 2: have shows the tense

  have changes for the tense: has / had / is having / will have / is going to have… The past participle never changes.

  Example: We're having our roof fixed.

  Example: I'll have it delivered tomorrow.

• Rule 3: get = have (informal)

  get + object + past participle means the same and is very common in speaking. To say who did the job, add by: had it checked by a mechanic. With a person as the object, the pattern changes: have someone do / get someone to do (Dad got me to wash the car).

  Pattern: subject + get + object + past participle

  Example: I need to get my shoes fixed.

  Example: He got his bike painted red.

• Rule 4: Questions and negatives

  have works like a normal verb: use do / does / did for questions and negatives.

  Example: Did you have your photo taken?

  Example: I don't have my bike serviced very often.

Common mistakes

• I had cut my hair. → I had my hair cut.

  Order: have + object + past participle.

• We had our house paint. → We had our house painted.

  You need the past participle at the end.

• I cut my hair at the salon. → I had my hair cut at the salon.

  If the hairdresser cuts it → had … cut.