Causative

USE
HAVE

We use the causative have in a passive structure to say that someone

else did something for us, usually a professional service.

Have something done

We can also use it to say that something

(often not nice) happened to someone.
 USE

GET

We can also use get similarly, although it is more informal and refers to
something urgent.

Get something done

We can also use it for something difficult

you managed to finish.
 STRUCTURE

The structure to build the causative is this:

SUBJECT HAVE (or GET) SOMETHING DONE

(the object) (the action in the
past participle)

We had our house painted

His son will have his eyes tested

 TIME REFERENCE
We can use the causative when talking about actions:

- that happened yesterday

- that are happening today

- that happen regularly or as a habit

- that are going to happen tomorrow

 EXAMPLES
“ The trainee has her reports checked every day at the end of the day!”

“She is going to have her roof repaired next week.”

“ He has had his whole life looked into for suspicion of tax fraud. ”

“I got my car serviced this morning because it had a problem with

the brakes .”

“ They are having the products checked to make sure there are no
faults.”
Rewrite the sentences using the causative structure:

1) Someone is repairing my central heating right now.

I am having my central heating repaired right now.
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2) Julia asked her lawyer to write a letter of complaint on her behalf.

Julia had a letter of complaint written on her behalf by her lawyer.
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3) Sarah is at the hairdresser’s this afternoon. She needs a haircut.

______________________________________________________
Sarah is having her hair cut this afternoon.
(Continued)

4) The cleaning lady cleans my house once a week.

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I have my house cleaned once a week.

2) John broke his arm. The doctor put it in a cast.

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John had his arm put in a cast.

3) Lots of people ask professionals in to help organise their wedding party.

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Lots of people have their wedding party organised by professionals.