By the end of this lesson, I can…
- A service with an affected object
- Tense and ongoing arrangements
- Do-support in negatives and questions
- The person doing the work
- An unwanted event
- Register and the perfect tense
Simple explanation
Use have/get something done when another person performs a service for you or when something happens to you. Learn the structure, tense changes, questions, and the difference between have and get.
A service with an affected object
In have/get + object + past participle, the object undergoes the action: I had my bike repaired. The subject usually arranges the service; it does not mean I repaired it myself or necessarily paid for it.
Tense and ongoing arrangements
Tense belongs to have/get: have it checked, had it checked, will have it checked. In I'm having the kitchen painted, having can present an ongoing arrangement; painted stays a past participle, not painting.
Do-support in negatives and questions
Simple causative have normally uses do-support: Did you have it repaired? and I didn't have it repaired. Keep have, not had, after did. In compound tenses, use the auxiliary already present rather than adding do.
The person doing the work
To name the performer, use have someone do something or get someone to do something. Anna performs the action in I got Anna to check it; it undergoes it in I got it checked. Identify the object's role first.
An unwanted event
Have + object + past participle can report an unwanted experience: She had her bag stolen. It does not mean she arranged the theft. The identical form can express a service or an affected experience; context distinguishes them.
Register and the perfect tense
Get is often more conversational and may emphasize achieving a result. I have repaired the bike is present perfect with me as repairer; I have the bike repaired is causative with different word order. Have alone does not identify tense or agency.
Usage reference table
| Pattern or function | Target-language model |
|---|---|
| A service with an affected object | I had my bike repaired by a mechanic. |
| Tense and ongoing arrangements | I'm having the kitchen painted this week. |
| Do-support in negatives and questions | Did you have the lock changed? |
| The person doing the work | I got Anna to check the figures. |
| An unwanted event | Anna had her bag stolen while she was shopping. |
| Meaning in context | A technician did the work: I had my laptop repaired. |
Grammar formula
A service with an affected object
Subject + have/get + affected object + past participleI had my bike repaired by a mechanic.
Tense and ongoing arrangements
Subject + am/is/are having + object + past participleAnna is having the kitchen painted.
Do-support in negatives and questions
Did + subject + have/get + object + past participle?Did you have the lock changed?
The person doing the work
Subject + have + person + base verbI had Tom check the figures.
The person doing the work
Subject + get + person + to + base verbI got Anna to check the figures.
An unwanted event
Subject + have + affected object + past participle (unwanted event)Mia had her bag stolen on the bus.
Core rules
- 1
A service with an affected object
In have/get + object + past participle, the object undergoes the action: I had my bike repaired. The subject usually arranges the service; it does not mean I repaired it myself or necessarily paid for it.
- 2
Tense and ongoing arrangements
Tense belongs to have/get: have it checked, had it checked, will have it checked. In I'm having the kitchen painted, having can present an ongoing arrangement; painted stays a past participle, not painting.
- 3
Do-support in negatives and questions
Simple causative have normally uses do-support: Did you have it repaired? and I didn't have it repaired. Keep have, not had, after did. In compound tenses, use the auxiliary already present rather than adding do.
- 4
The person doing the work
To name the performer, use have someone do something or get someone to do something. Anna performs the action in I got Anna to check it; it undergoes it in I got it checked. Identify the object's role first.
- 5
An unwanted event
Have + object + past participle can report an unwanted experience: She had her bag stolen. It does not mean she arranged the theft. The identical form can express a service or an affected experience; context distinguishes them.
- 6
Register and the perfect tense
Get is often more conversational and may emphasize achieving a result. I have repaired the bike is present perfect with me as repairer; I have the bike repaired is causative with different word order. Have alone does not identify tense or agency.
Useful examples
I had my phone repaired yesterday.
She gets her hair cut every six weeks.
We are having the kitchen painted.
He had his passport stolen.
You should get your eyes tested.
They will have the documents translated.
Did you get the lock changed?
I haven't had the boiler checked yet.
The company had the report rewritten.
Where can I get this watch fixed?
Common mistakes
- ❌ I had my bike repair by a mechanic. ✅ I had my bike repaired by a mechanic.
- ❌ I'm have the kitchen painted this week. ✅ I'm having the kitchen painted this week.
- ❌ Did you had the lock changed? ✅ Did you have the lock changed?
- ❌ I got Anna check the figures. ✅ I got Anna to check the figures.
- ❌ Anna had her bag steal while she was shopping. ✅ Anna had her bag stolen while she was shopping.
- ❌ A technician did the work: I had my laptop repaired. → An unwanted experience, not an arranged event ✅ A technician did the work: I had my laptop repaired. → Arranged service; the object after have/get undergoes the action
Learning tips
- Have + object + past participle can report an unwanted experience: She had her bag stolen. It does not mean she arranged the theft. The identical form can express a service or an affected experience; context distinguishes them.
- Get is often more conversational and may emphasize achieving a result. I have repaired the bike is present perfect with me as repairer; I have the bike repaired is causative with different word order. Have alone does not identify tense or agency.
Use it in your own text
Write six new sentences about your life, experiences or views. Use the rules and table and check why each form fits. The models are illustrations; you need not force every form into one text. This is self-assessment; the test score is recorded separately.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “A service with an affected object”.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “Tense and ongoing arrangements”.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “Do-support in negatives and questions”.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “The person doing the work”.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “An unwanted event”.
- Compare the form and meaning of two of your examples and explain the difference.
Show the model
I had my phone repaired yesterday. She gets her hair cut every six weeks. We are having the kitchen painted. He had his passport stolen. You should get your eyes tested. They will have the documents translated.
Check your own work
- My intended meaning fits the chosen construction.
- I checked subject, verb form, case/preposition and word order.
- I adapted the models to my own context and considered the exceptions.
Put it into practice
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Related grammar
Frequently asked questions
What matters for “A service with an affected object”?
In have/get + object + past participle, the object undergoes the action: I had my bike repaired. The subject usually arranges the service; it does not mean I repaired it myself or necessarily paid for it.
What matters for “Tense and ongoing arrangements”?
Tense belongs to have/get: have it checked, had it checked, will have it checked. In I'm having the kitchen painted, having can present an ongoing arrangement; painted stays a past participle, not painting.
What matters for “Do-support in negatives and questions”?
Simple causative have normally uses do-support: Did you have it repaired? and I didn't have it repaired. Keep have, not had, after did. In compound tenses, use the auxiliary already present rather than adding do.
What matters for “The person doing the work”?
To name the performer, use have someone do something or get someone to do something. Anna performs the action in I got Anna to check it; it undergoes it in I got it checked. Identify the object's role first.
What matters for “An unwanted event”?
Have + object + past participle can report an unwanted experience: She had her bag stolen. It does not mean she arranged the theft. The identical form can express a service or an affected experience; context distinguishes them.
What matters for “Register and the perfect tense”?
Get is often more conversational and may emphasize achieving a result. I have repaired the bike is present perfect with me as repairer; I have the bike repaired is causative with different word order. Have alone does not identify tense or agency.
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