Form
Formula: have / get + object + past participle
| Tense | Have causative | Get causative |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | I have my nails done every week. | She gets her car serviced regularly. |
| Past Simple | I had my hair cut yesterday. | We got the boiler fixed. |
| Present Continuous | We're having the kitchen painted. | She's getting her eyes tested. |
| Future | I'll have it delivered. | He'll get it done by tomorrow. |
| Question | Where do you have your hair cut? | Did you get your suit dry-cleaned? |
Use
The causative means you arrange for someone else to do something for you — usually a professional service. You do not do it yourself.
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| Professional service | I had my computer repaired. (= a technician repaired it) |
| Personal service | She has her house cleaned every Friday. (= a cleaner does it) |
| Unfortunate event (have) | She had her bag stolen. (= it happened to her — she didn't arrange it!) |
Unfortunate events with have:
Have something done can also describe something bad that happened to you: "He had his phone stolen." / "She had her window broken." Context makes it clear.
Have vs Get
| Feature | Have | Get |
|---|---|---|
| Register | Neutral / formal | Informal / conversational |
| Typical context | Business, formal writing, regular arrangements | Everyday speech, persuading someone to do something |
| Unfortunate events | ✓ "He had his wallet stolen." | Less common in this use |
Exercises
Choose the correct causative form.
1. I'm going to the salon tomorrow — I ___ my hair ___ (cut).
2. She ___ her car repaired at the garage last week.
3. They ___ their house painted before they sold it.
4. He ___ his wallet stolen on the bus. (= it happened to him)
5. Where do you usually ___ your suits ___? (dry-cleaned)