Causative Have and Get helps you communicate about services, arranged actions and persuasion. Start with the meaning, notice the pattern, and then use it in complete sentences.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- I can describe arranging for services and causing something to happen.
- Recognise and build the form: have/get + object + past participle; have + person + base; get + person + to-infinitive.
- Use the pattern accurately in a meaningful sentence.
Meaning and use
Use Causative Have and Get for services, arranged actions and persuasion. Always read the whole situation before choosing the form: grammar expresses a meaning, not only a pattern.
I had my hair cut yesterday.
'Have + object + past participle' describes a service done for you.
We are getting the roof repaired next week.
'Get + object + past participle' describes an arranged service.
She had the technician check the printer.
'Have + person + base verb' means instruct or arrange for someone to act.
have/get + object + past participle; have + person + base; get + person + to-infinitiveKeep this pattern visible while you study the examples. Then cover it and rebuild one example from memory.
Key rules to notice
These rules explain why the form is correct. Focus on the subject, auxiliary, verb form, word order and time or meaning clues.
- 'Have + object + past participle' describes a service done for you.
- 'Get + object + past participle' describes an arranged service.
- 'Have + person + base verb' means instruct or arrange for someone to act.
- 'Get + person + to-infinitive' means persuade or arrange for someone to act.
- The document receives the service, so use a past participle.
Common mistakes
Not:I had my hair cutting yesterday.
Use:I had my hair cut yesterday.
'Have + object + past participle' describes a service done for you.
Not:We are getting the roof repairing next week.
Use:We are getting the roof repaired next week.
'Get + object + past participle' describes an arranged service.
Not:She had the technician to check the printer.
Use:She had the technician check the printer.
'Have + person + base verb' means instruct or arrange for someone to act.
Check before you practise
Complete each sentence mentally, then reveal the answer.
They got a designer ____ the website.
to redesign
'Get + person + to-infinitive' means persuade or arrange for someone to act.
I need to have this document ____.
translated
The document receives the service, so use a past participle.
He got his phone ____ after dropping it.
fixed
Use 'got + object + past participle' for a completed repair service.