HAVE / GET SOMETHING DONE (CAUSATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS)

We use have/get something done to say that we arrange for somebody else to do something forus. Compare:

Jill repaired the car. (= she repaired it herself) Jill had / got her car repaired. (= She arranged for somebody else to repair it)

Be careful with word order. The PAST PARTICIPLE is after the OBJECT. Examples:

- Where did you have / get your hair cut?- Julia has just had / got central heating installed- We are having / getting the house painted- How often do you have / get your eyes tested?- I think you should have / get your coat cleaned

Sometimes we use this construction to say that something happens to somebody or their belongings. Examples:

- George had / got his nose broken in a fight- Have you ever had / got your passport stolen?

EXERCISES.

Make sentences with a correct form of HAVE / GET SOMETHING DONE for these situations:

- Tom’s windows were dirty, but he didn’t have time to clean them himself. He................................

- The shop delivers Mary’s fod to her house. She.................................- The hairdresser cuts Rachel’s hair twice a week. Rachel........................- Last week the optician checked My eyes. Last week I..............................- A builder is going to replace the roof on our house. We........................

Put the words in the correct order:

- had / his driving licence/ Peter/ by the police/ taken away- from the garage/ had/ her bike/ Paula / stolen- Fiona/ broken/ her glasses/ had- torn / John / had/ in a fight / his clothes- at the weekend / had/ her flat/ Jane/ burgled