Grammar › Passive Voice › Causative: have/get something done
Causative: have/get something done
The causative says someone else does a job for you. Use have/get + object + past participle:
- Arranging a service — I had my car repaired (someone repaired it for me).
- 'Get' for an informal tone — I got my hair cut.
- Something that happens to you — They had their car towed.
Put the tense on 'have/get', keep the past participle fixed. Don't confuse 'I had my car repaired' (someone did it) with 'I repaired my car' (I did it).
How to form the causative
Use have (or get) + object + past participle.
| Meaning | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Arrange a service | have + object + participle | I had my car repaired. |
| Same, more informal | get + object + participle | I got my hair cut. |
| Change the tense on have/get | (tense) have/get + object + participle | She has had her photo taken. |
| Something happens to you | have + object + participle | They had their flight cancelled. |
The tense sits on have/get; the main verb stays a past participle.
When to use it
1. A service someone does for you
- We had the kitchen painted last month. (a decorator did it)
- I need to get my eyes tested.
2. Across the tenses
- I’m having the boiler serviced tomorrow.
- He’s just had a tooth removed.
3. Something that happens to you (often bad)
- She had her bag stolen at the station.
⚠️ Meaning check: I had my car washed = someone washed it for me. I washed my car = I did it myself.
Common mistakes
1. Using the base verb. I had my car repair → I had my car repaired.
2. Putting the tense on the wrong verb. I have cut my hair yesterday (meaning a hairdresser) → I had my hair cut yesterday.
3. Wrong word order. I had repaired my car (a mechanic) → I had my car repaired. Pro tip: object first, then the past participle — have + [thing] + [done].
✏️ Practice: Causative: have/get something done
1. I don't repair cars myself. I ___ .
2. She ___ last week — it looks great and short now.
3. We're ___ next week — the walls are looking tired.
4. Choose the informal version of 'I had my phone fixed.'
5. They ___ at the airport — someone took it from the carousel.
6. I need to ___ before my trip.
7. Correct this: 'He had his tooth remove yesterday.'
8. What does 'I had my windows cleaned' mean?
9. Put the tense correctly: 'She ___ her eyes tested every year.'
10. Which sentence means you did the work YOURSELF?
Frequently asked questions
What does 'have something done' mean?
It means you arrange for someone else to do it: I had my house painted = a painter painted it for me, not me.
What is the difference between 'have' and 'get' something done?
They mean the same; 'get' is a little more informal and common in speech: I got my phone fixed = I had my phone fixed.
How do I change the tense?
Change 'have/get', not the participle: I have my hair cut / I had my hair cut / I'm going to have my hair cut.
Can it describe bad experiences?
Yes: They had their luggage stolen; She had her application rejected — something happened to them, often unwanted.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Causative: have/get something done”:
- Can form the causative with have/get + object + past participle (CEFR B2).
- Can change the tense on have/get while keeping the participle.
- Can distinguish 'have something done' from doing it yourself.
⬇︎ Download the Lesson Pack (PDF)
Printable worksheet + answer key + one-page summary. Free to use and print in class with attribution. Join the newsletter for new packs and cheat sheets.