Causative: have / get something done
The causative with "have something done" and "get something done" is used when you arrange for another person to do a job for you, rather than doing it yourself.
Form: have/get + object + past participle
To form the causative, use a form of "have" or "get", then the object (the thing affected), then the past participle of the verb. The focus is on the result that happens to the object, not on the person who does the work. "Have" and "get" change for tense, while the past participle stays the same.
- •I had my hair cut yesterday.
- •She gets her car washed every weekend.
- •We are having the kitchen painted next month.
- •They have just had their windows cleaned.
Meaning: arranging a service
We use this structure when someone else (often a professional) does the action for us, usually because we pay them or ask them to. It is very common when talking about services such as repairs, beauty, and home improvements. The person who actually does the job is often unimportant and is left out of the sentence.
- •He had his suit dry-cleaned for the wedding.
- •You should get your eyes tested regularly.
- •We had the roof repaired after the storm.
- •I need to get this document translated.
Have vs. get and the unplanned use
In most situations "have" and "get" mean the same thing, but "get" is slightly more informal and often suggests effort or persuasion. The causative can also describe something unpleasant or unplanned that happens to us, where we did not arrange it at all. In this second meaning, only "have" is normally used.
- •I finally got the report finished before the deadline.
- •They had their flight cancelled because of the snow.
- •She had her phone stolen on the train.
- •Can you get the heating fixed today?