subject + have + object + past participleChange have for tense: have, has, had, will have. The final verb stays a past participle.
Causative Have and Get
B2Use have/get + object + past participle when someone else does a job for you: have the car repaired, get your hair cut.
What you'll learn
- Show that another person does the job for you.
- Build have + object + past participle correctly.
- Build get + object + past participle correctly.
- Change only have or get for past, present, and future time.
- Notice service words that often go with this pattern.
Structure
subject + get + object + past participleChange get for tense: get, gets, got, will get. The final verb stays a past participle.
Build a sentence
Time
Object
Ihadmy carfixed
I had my car fixed yesterday.
Change have for time. The last verb stays a past participle: fixed.
When to use
Repairs and maintenance
Use it for cars, phones, plumbing, painting, and other jobs done by a worker or technician.
Personal services
Use it for haircuts, dental work, eye tests, and similar services arranged for yourself or another person.
Arranged tasks
Use it when you ask or arrange for someone to print, deliver, clean, or check something for you.
Markers
repairserviceappointmenthaircutcheckdeliverpaintclean
Common mistakes
Wrong
Maria cut her hair yesterday.
Correct
Maria had her hair cut yesterday.
The first sentence says Maria did it herself. Use causative have when a stylist did the job for her.
Wrong
Tom had his car fix yesterday.
Correct
Tom had his car fixed yesterday.
After the object, use a past participle: fixed, checked, painted, delivered.
Wrong
Anna got her phone repair last week.
Correct
Anna got her phone repaired last week.
Get follows the same pattern here: object + past participle, not a base verb.
Wrong
We have the windows cleaned tomorrow.
Correct
We will have the windows cleaned tomorrow.
Future time changes have, not the final participle.
Common misconceptions
❝ If I say I had my hair cut, it means I cut it myself. ❞
No. It means another person cut your hair, and you arranged or received the service.
❝ Only have is correct in this pattern; get is wrong. ❞
Both are correct. Have is more neutral, and get is common in everyday English.
Skills in this rule (6)
USE_SOMEONE_ELSE_DOES_ITw5Use have or get when another person does the action for you
Use this pattern when you arrange, pay, or ask for a service instead of doing the action yourself. The subject receives the result, not the action role.
HAVE_OBJECT_PAST_PARTICIPLEw5Build causative have with have + object + past participle
Put have in the needed tense, then the thing or person affected, then the past participle. Use it for planned services and arranged actions.
GET_OBJECT_PAST_PARTICIPLEw4Build causative get with get + object + past participle
Use get in the needed tense, then the affected thing, then the past participle. It often sounds more informal and action-focused than have.
CHOOSE_HAVE_OR_GETw3Choose have or get for the same service meaning
Both patterns express that another person does the action. Have is more neutral; get is often more spoken and dynamic.
PUT_HAVE_GET_IN_ANY_TENSEw5Change have or get to the tense you need
Only have or get changes for time: had, got, will have, has gotten. The final verb stays a past participle.
KNOW_SERVICE_CONTEXT_MARKERSw2Recognize markers of arranged services and repairs
Words about appointments, salons, repairs, deliveries, and maintenance often signal this pattern. They help you expect a service done by someone else.