Intermediate 📐 Grammar · #105 of 305

Causative: Have/Get Something Done

Arrange for someone else to do something.

Examples

  • I had my car repaired.

Key rules

  • Form: have/get + object + past participle
  • It shows a service done by someone else
  • Get is more informal
  • Use it with all tenses by changing have or get

Common mistakes

  • I cut my hair yesterday (at a salon) → I had my hair cut yesterday
  • She has repaired her car → She has had her car repaired
💡 Tip: Do not use it when you do the job yourself.
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Related Intermediate topics

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Present Perfect Continuous

have been + -ing stresses duration up to now.

Past Perfect

had + past participle for an earlier past action.

Past Perfect Continuous

had been + -ing for duration before a past moment.

Future Continuous

will be + -ing for actions in progress at a future time.

Future Perfect

will have + past participle for completion before a future time.

Future Perfect Continuous

will have been + -ing for duration up to a future point.