Verbs
Have Something Done vs Get Something Done
Updated
Use have/get + object + past participle when arranging for work to be done: "I had my laptop repaired" or "I got my laptop repaired". In this service meaning, someone else performs the repair. Get is often more conversational. The same word pattern can have other meanings, so always read the context.
The structure: have/get + object + past participle
Place the thing receiving the action between have/get and the past participle. In "We had the windows cleaned", we arranged the service, the windows received the action and cleaned names the work. The sentence does not need to identify the cleaner.
| Person arranging it | Have/get | Object | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | had | my bike | serviced. |
| She | gets | her nails | painted. |
| We | are having | the roof | repaired. |
| They | will get | the invitations | printed. |
- The object comes before the participle: "have the room painted", not "have painted the room" for this meaning.
- Use a past participle even for future work: "I’ll get it checked", not "I’ll get it check".
- Irregular participles keep their irregular form: "have a photo taken", "get a jacket made", "have your hair cut".
Have vs get: meaning and level of formality
The unwanted-event use is especially important. "They had their flight cancelled" reports something that happened to them. It does not mean they requested cancellation. To show deliberate action, add clear context: "They asked the airline to cancel their booking."
| Context | Example | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Arranged service | I had the curtains shortened at a tailor’s. | A tailor did the work. |
| Conversational service | I got my screen replaced at the repair shop. | The shop replaced it. |
| Completion | I got my notes organised before lunch. | I may have organised them myself. |
| Unwanted event | She had her bag stolen on the bus. | She experienced the theft; she did not arrange it. |
Change have or get to show the tense
The tense belongs to have/get. The final participle stays in its participle form. Compare the planned event "I am having the boiler checked tomorrow" with the completed event "I had the boiler checked yesterday".
| Time or form | Model with have | Model with get |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | I have the car washed every month. | I get the car washed every month. |
| Past simple | I had the car washed yesterday. | I got the car washed yesterday. |
| Present continuous | I am having the car washed now. | I am getting the car washed now. |
| Future with will | I will have the car washed tomorrow. | I will get the car washed tomorrow. |
| Present perfect | I have had the car washed. | I have got/gotten the car washed. |
| Modal | I should have the car washed. | I should get the car washed. |
- Gotten is common as the participle of get in American English; got is usual in British English.
- Questions and negatives use normal verb grammar: "Did you have it checked?" and "I didn’t get it checked."
- After a modal, use the base form have or get: "You must have it inspected."
- Present perfect have had contains two forms of have with different jobs: the first is an auxiliary; the second is the causative verb.
Have someone do vs get someone to do
If you name the person performing the action, the construction changes. Have + person + base verb often means instructing or arranging for that person to act. Get + person + to-infinitive can mean persuading or arranging for the person to act. Neither structure automatically implies force.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Have + thing + participle | I had the report checked. |
| Have + person + base verb | I had a colleague check the report. |
| Get + thing + participle | I got the report checked. |
| Get + person + to + base verb | I got a colleague to check the report. |
- Do not mix the endings: "had Sam repair it" but "got Sam to repair it".
- Keep the performer and the receiver distinct: a mechanic repairs a car; a car is repaired.
- An optional by-phrase can identify the worker in the passive pattern: "We had the wiring inspected by an electrician."
Three similar sentences with different meanings
The position of the object is the useful clue. "I have repaired the chair" places the object after repaired. "I have the chair repaired" puts the chair between have and repaired. Read both aloud and explain the difference before trying the exercises.
| Sentence | Who does the work? | What the grammar says |
|---|---|---|
| I have repaired the chair. | I do the repair. | Present perfect of repair. |
| I have the chair repaired every year. | Another person does the repair in this service context. | Present simple causative have. |
| I have had the chair repaired. | Another person does the repair in this service context. | Present perfect causative have. |
Common mistakes and real-life practice
At a repair desk: "I’d like to have this zip replaced. Could you tell me how much it will cost?" At work: "We need to get the figures checked before sending the proposal." These requests combine a clear task with a realistic reason.
Write three sentences about services you use. Include one routine, one completed event and one future arrangement. Then rewrite one sentence using have someone do or get someone to do, naming the person who performs the work.
| Avoid for the intended meaning | Use | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| I had my laptop repair. | I had my laptop repaired. | The passive causative needs a past participle. |
| She got the plumber fix the tap. | She got the plumber to fix the tap. | Get + person needs to + verb. |
| We had Ali to check it. | We had Ali check it. | Have + person takes the base verb without to. |
| Did you had the tyres checked? | Did you have the tyres checked? | Did already carries the past tense. |
15 practice exercises with explained answers
Complete or rewrite each sentence using the stated pattern. The service examples explicitly say who performs the work so that the intended meaning is clear. Write your answer before opening the explanation.
A technician repaired my tablet. Rewrite: I had ...
Show answer and explanation for question 1
Answer: I had my tablet repaired.
Put the receiver my tablet before the participle repaired.
A barber cuts his hair monthly. Rewrite: He gets ...
Show answer and explanation for question 2
Answer: He gets his hair cut monthly.
Cut is both the base form and past participle; gets agrees with he.
We arranged for painters to paint the hall. Rewrite: We had ...
Show answer and explanation for question 3
Answer: We had the hall painted.
The hall receives the action and painted is the participle.
Complete: I am having my coat ___ by a tailor. (shorten)
Show answer and explanation for question 4
Answer: shortened
The tense is in am having; use the participle shortened.
Complete: They will get the documents ___ at the office. (print)
Show answer and explanation for question 5
Answer: printed
Future will get is followed by object plus participle.
Correct: Did you had the alarm tested?
Show answer and explanation for question 6
Answer: Did you have the alarm tested?
After did, use the base form have.
Complete: I got a mechanic ___ the brakes. (check)
Show answer and explanation for question 7
Answer: to check
Get + person requires a to-infinitive.
Complete: I had a mechanic ___ the brakes. (check)
Show answer and explanation for question 8
Answer: check
Have + person takes the base verb without to.
Put into the negative past: She had the carpet cleaned.
Show answer and explanation for question 9
Answer: She did not have the carpet cleaned.
Use did not have; cleaned stays a participle.
Use present perfect causative have: A specialist has examined my eyes. Begin: I ...
Show answer and explanation for question 10
Answer: I have had my eyes examined.
Have is the perfect auxiliary and had is the causative participle.
Rewrite with get: We arranged for a courier to collect the parcel yesterday.
Show answer and explanation for question 11
Answer: We got the parcel collected yesterday.
Past got plus receiver plus participle expresses the arrangement.
Complete: You should have that photo ___ professionally. (take)
Show answer and explanation for question 12
Answer: taken
Take has the irregular past participle taken.
Who normally completed the work in “I finally got my homework done”?
Show answer and explanation for question 13
Answer: The speaker; the sentence does not necessarily describe an outside service.
Get something done can mean managing to complete a task.
Did the traveller arrange the theft in “She had her suitcase stolen”?
Show answer and explanation for question 14
Answer: No. The sentence describes an unwanted event she experienced.
Have something done can report an adverse experience, not only a service.
Rewrite naming the worker: I got the invoice checked by Mina. Begin: I got Mina ...
Show answer and explanation for question 15
Answer: I got Mina to check the invoice.
Naming the performer after get requires to + base verb.
Common questions
Is get something done incorrect in formal English?
No. It is grammatical, but have something done is often a more neutral choice for formal service descriptions. Choose the wording that matches the situation.
Does have something done always mean paying someone?
No. Someone may perform the work as a favour or as part of their job. The construction itself does not say whether money changed hands.
What is the difference between “I have repaired it” and “I have had it repaired”?
The first normally says you performed the repair. In the service meaning, the second says you arranged for another person to repair it.
Continue practising
Further reading
These references offer additional explanations. The examples and exercises above were written for this guide.