Have something done

Have + object + Participle II

This construction is used:

to talk about something which we (or you, he, she, etc.) arrange but do not do ourselves

We have the newspapers delivered every day. (We do not do this ourselves.)

to describe misfortunes when something unpleasant or unexpected happens to someone

I had my arm broken in a basketball match.

He had his bag stolen last week.

Positive form	I am having a garage built at the moment. (Present Continuous) We must have it done by Sunday. (Modal Verb)
Negative form	Frank doesn't have his carpet cleaned every month. (Present Simple) She isn't going to have her house painted, (to be going to)
General questions	Have they had their TV fixed? — Yes, they have. (Present Perfect) Did he have to have his car repaired? — No, he didn't. (Past Simple)
Alternative questions	Did your mother have your shoes repaired in East Street or in Baines Street? - (She had them repaired) in East Street. (Past Simple) Has Peter had four or only two new tyres fitted on his car recently? - (He's had) only two (new tyres fitted on his car recently). (Present Perfect)
Special questions	Who will have your coat cleaned for you? - Jack will. (Future Simple) When had they had their alarm system fitted? - Before December 15. (Past Perfect)
Tag questions	You have to have your passports checked at the frontier, don't you? - Yes, we do. (have to) (Present Simple) She wasn't having her hair done at that time, was she? - Yes, she was. (Past Continuous)

NOTES:

1. Note the word order.

HAVE: + OBJECT + PARTICIPLE II

He has his hair cut every month. (He employs someone to do it for him.)

HAVE + PARTICIPLE II + OBJECT

He has cut his hair. (He's just cut it himself.)

2. GET (mainly in informal spoken English) can be used in the same way as HAVE

It was difficult but we got the painting done in the end.

Exercise 13. Complete the sentences with the words in brackets. Use the correct form of have something done. Remember to use the correct form of the verb.

Example: They are having their flat decorated at the moment. (their flat/decorate)

1. I ___ at the moment, (my camera/repair)

2. We___ every month, (the accounts/check)

3. She's just ___. (her suit/dry-clean)

4. Are you going to___ or shall I throw them away? (these shoes/repair)

5. They will___ in a week, (their central heating/service)

6. I have to___(my hair/cut) because it's not allowed to wear long hair at school.

7. Ted___ in his flat last month, (a telephone/install)

8. John and a friend of his___(their photograph/take) when they heard a scream for help.

9. Sue's mother told her that she must___(her tooth/fill).

10. Poor Frank___(a lot of money/steal) while he was on holiday.

Exercise 14. Rewrite each sentence so that it contains a form of have something done. Do not include the doer of the action.

Example: The barber is cutting his hair this evening. He is having his hair cut this evening.

1. Someone has stolen my car.

2. The dentist has pulled out one of Jeff's teeth.

3. Someone broke Peter's nose in a fight.

4. A painter was painting our house when it began to rain.

5. The tailor made that suit especially for Steve's wedding.

6. The mechanic is servicing our car because it's going to be a long journey.

7. George's hat was blown off in the wind.

8. The postman delivers our newspapers every day.