Have something

done
An everyday life structure
When we
cannot do
something,
another
person
performs the
service for
us.
 Passive form: HAVE SOMETHING DONE

• PASSIVE: Subject + have/get + object + past participle

•
Examples: Jill had/got the roof repaired yesterday.
I am having/am getting my laptop upgraded.
Sergio has/gets his car repaired by Rodrigo at LAVCA Workshop.
Linda has had/has gotten her apartment redecorated.
The Jones are going to have/are going to get a garage built.
You must have/must get your blood pressure checked by a doctor.
by + person
at + place
 Mary has her hair done every month.
Mary gets her hair done every month.
We use get in
I have my hair cut at The Cave Barbershop.
colloquial
English, rather I get my hair cut at The Cave Barbershop.
than in written
English. They are We had our car serviced last week.
totally
We got our car serviced last week.
interchangeable.
I need to have some copies made.
I need to get some copies made.
This I will get my vacation photos printed.
structure
Marcia is redecorating her living. She is not having the living
can be used redecorated because it was too expensive.
in every
My hair is long. Where should I have my hair cut?
way:
affirmative Rhonda is going to have her eyes examined.
and negative
statements Hey. We are having English classes taught online!

and making
questions. My mother needs to get her garden landscaped. It’s messy.
 QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
• Where should /can/could I have my hair cut?
• You can have your hair cut by Vincent at The Cave Barbershop.

• You can have it cut by Vincent at The Cave Barbershop.

• Where could I get my courtains washed? (kor-tens)

• You can get your courtains washed at Martinizing.

• You can get them washed at Martinizing.

 • Subject + have + person + base verb + object
• I had Vincent cut my hair.
• Milly is having a party planner organize her wedding.
• Robert has his sister iron his shirts.
• We should have the gardener plant some azaleas in our garden.
Have someone • You should have a videographer film your wedding.
• Patricia has her son wash her car every Saturday.
do something.
• Where can I have a technician repair my cell pone?
• You can have Chistian repair your phone. He is a real expert.
 • Subject + get + person + infinitive + object
• Ava got the mechanic to repair the start motor.
• Phil got his sister to bake his birthday cake.
• Anne gets her parents to do whatever she wants.
• I am getting a crew to paint my house. (kru)
Get someone to • Anya got a famous artist to paint her portrait.
• We have gotten a personal trainer to lead our aerobics class.
do something
• Where can I get someone to examine my eyes?
• You can get Dr. Guerra to examine your eyes. She is a great
ophtalmologist.
We can use all
the tenses.
Different use of Have Something Done
We use exclusively the form HAVE something done to express we were
victims of an accident, a disaster, a crime, or any other negative event.

• John had his briefcase stolen at the metro. (brif keys)

• Tony’s parents have had the roof damaged by the storms.
• I have just had my car crashed.
• Molly was agressive, and she had her passport taken away by the
Police.
• It was so windy that many people had their hats blown by the wind.
 We have three structures:
Active: have/get + person
1. Subject + have someone do something.
• Dr. Mill, please have your secretary email me
the information.
• We have Sebastian walk our dog every
morning.

Wrap up:
2. Subject + get someone to do something.
• We got a chef to prepare our wedding buffet.
• Sheila is getting an architect to design her
new house.
Passive: have/get + object + past participle
3. Subject + have/get something done
• I had/got my car repaired last week.
• Anna has/gets her car washed every week.