Causatives: Have and Get: Services

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Causatives: Have and Get
We use a causative verb when we want to talk about something that someone else did
for us or for another person. It means that the subject caused the action to happen,
but did not do it themselves. Maybe they paid, or asked, or persuaded the other
person to do it. For example, we can say:
 I cleaned my house. (This means I cleaned it myself).
If I paid someone to clean it, of course I can say:
 A cleaner cleaned my house.
However, another way is to use a causative construction. So I can also say:
 I had my house cleaned.
In a sense, using a causative verb is similar to using a passive. The important thing is
that the house is now clean. We do not focus on who did the cleaning.
SERVICES
1. Have + object + past participle (have something done)
We usually use 'have something done' when we are talking about paying someone to do
something for us. It is used for services. The form is 'subject + have + object + past
participle'.
 I had my car washed.

 John will have his house painted.
2. Get + object + past participle (get something done)
We can also use 'subject + get + object + past participle'. This has the same meaning as
'have', but is less formal.
 The students get their essays checked.

 I'll get my hair cut next week.
 He got his washing machine fixed.
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DOER OF THE ACTION
1. Have someone do something (have + person + base form)
We can also use the construction 'SUBJECT + HAVE + PERSON + BASE FORM'. This has a
very similar meaning to 'have something done', which we've already talked about, but
this time we say who did the thing - we talk about the person who we asked to do the
thing for us.
 I had the electrician look at my broken light.

 The doctor will have the nurse call the patients.
 The teacher had the students write the answers on the whiteboard.
2. Get someone to do something (get + person + to infinitive)
We can also use the construction 'GET + SOMEONE + TO INFINITIVE'. Again, this means
that you cause the other person to do the action, maybe by paying them to do it, or by
asking them to do it, or by persuading them to do it.
 She gets her son to do his homework by promising him ice cream when he's
finished.
 I got the cleaner to clean under the cupboards.
Sometimes, this construction has the feeling that we needed to convince someone to
do something, while the other constructions on this page are neutral.
3. Make someone do something (make + person + base form)
We can also use the construction 'MAKE + SOMEONE + BASE FORM'. Again, this means
that you cause the other person to do the action, maybe by obliging them to do it.
 She made her son do his homework before playing computer games.
 The teacher made us bring a poster about Causatives.
4. Let someone do something (let + person + base form)
We can also use the construction 'LET + SOMEONE + BASE FORM'. Again, this means
that you cause the other person to do the action, maybe by permitting them to do it.
 She let her son play computer games all day.

 My mom didn’t let us have a pet.
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Practice
1. Change the sentences so they use the structure 'have something done' or 'get something
done'.
1) I washed my car. (have)
I had my car wash
2) I cut my hair. (get)
3) I typed the documents. (have)
4) I fixed the washing machine. (get)
5) I cut the grass. (have)
6) I painted my bedroom. (get)
7) I repaired my fridge. (have)
8) I tidied my garden. (get)
9) I edited the article. (have)
10) I cleaned the carpets. (get)
11) I cleaned the windows. (have)
12) I checked my teeth. (get)
13) I printed the photo. (have)
14) I made the necklace. (get)
15) I delivered the furniture. (have)
16) I wrote the report. (have)
17) I repaired the roof. (get)
18) I dyed my hair. (get)
2. Put the verbs in the correct form.
1. My colleague got me _______ (write) the report.
2. We don’t let the children _______ (do) their homework on Sunday afternoon.
3. Peter got the shop assistant _______ (give) him a discount.
4. The boss made the secretary ________ (type) the report again.
5. They had the waiter ________ (bring) some water.
6.7. I had my hair ______ (cut) yesterday. I had my cousin Lila ______ (do) it.
8. Why don’t you get your kitchen _______ (paint)?

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Causatives: Have and Get

 I cleaned my house. (This means I cleaned it myself).

If I paid someone to clean it, of course I can say:

 A cleaner cleaned my house.

However, another way is to use a causative construction. So I can also say:

 I had my house cleaned.

1. Have + object + past participle (have something done)

 I had my car washed.

2. Get + object + past participle (get something done)

 The students get their essays checked.

 I had the electrician look at my broken light.

2. Get someone to do something (get + person + to infinitive)

3. Make someone do something (make + person + base form)

4. Let someone do something (let + person + base form)

 She let her son play computer games all day.

1) I washed my car. (have)

I had my car wash

2) I cut my hair. (get)

3) I typed the documents. (have)

4) I fixed the washing machine. (get)

5) I cut the grass. (have)

6) I painted my bedroom. (get)

7) I repaired my fridge. (have)

8) I tidied my garden. (get)

9) I edited the article. (have)

10) I cleaned the carpets. (get)

11) I cleaned the windows. (have)

12) I checked my teeth. (get)

13) I printed the photo. (have)

14) I made the necklace. (get)

15) I delivered the furniture. (have)

16) I wrote the report. (have)

17) I repaired the roof. (get)

18) I dyed my hair. (get)

2. Put the verbs in the correct form.

1. My colleague got me _______ (write) the report.

3. Peter got the shop assistant _______ (give) him a discount.

5. They had the waiter ________ (bring) some water.

8. Why don’t you get your kitchen _______ (paint)?

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