A.
Study this example situation:
The roof
of Jill's house was damaged in a storm, so she arranged for somebody to repair
it. Yesterday a workman came and did the job.
Jill had
the roof repaired yesterday.
This
means: Jill arranged for somebody else to repair the roof. She didn't repair it
herself.
We use
have something done to say that we arrange for somebody else to do something
for us.
Compare:
* Jill
repaired the roof. (= she repaired it herself)
* Jill
had the roof repaired. (= she arranged for somebody else to repair it)
Study
these sentences:
* Did
Ann make the dress herself or did she have it made?
* 'Are
you going to repair the car yourself?' 'No, I'm going to have it repaired.'
Be
careful with word order. The past participle (repaired/cut etc.) is after the
object (the roof your hair etc.):
have +
object + past participle
Jill had
the roof repaired yesterday.
Where
did you have your hair cut?
Your
hair looks nice. Have you had it cut?
Julia
has just had central heating installed in her house.
We are
having the house painted at the moment.
How
often do you have your car serviced?
I think
you should have that coat cleaned soon.
I don't
like having my photograph taken.
B. You
can also say 'get something done' instead of 'have something done' (mainly in
informal spoken English):
* When
are you going to get the roof repaired? (= have the roof repaired)
* I
think you should get your hair cut.
C.
Sometimes have something done has a different meaning. For example:
* Jill
and Eric had all their money stolen while they were on holiday.
Of
course this does not mean that they arranged for somebody to steal their money.
'They had all their money stolen' means only: 'All their money was stolen from
them.'
With
this meaning, we use have something done to say that something happens to
somebody or their belongings. Usually what happens is not nice:
* George
had his nose broken in a fight.
* Have
you ever had your passport stolen?
EXERCISES
45.1
Tick (V) the correct sentence, (a) or (b), for each picture.
1. SARAH
a Sarah
is cutting her hair.
b Sarah
is having her hair cut.
2. BILL
a Bill
is cutting his hair.
b Bill
is having his hair cut.
3. JOHN
a John
is cleaning his shoes.
b John
is having his shoes cleaned.
4. SUE
a Sue is
taking a photograph.
b Sue is
having her photograph taken.
45.2 Why
did you do these things? Answer using 'have something done'. Use one of these
verbs:
clean cut repair
service
1. Why
did you take your car to the garage? _To have it serviced._
2. Why
did you take your jacket to the cleaner's? To ---
3. Why
did you take your watch to the jeweller's? ---
4. Why
did you go to the hairdresser? ---
45.3
Write sentences in the way shown.
1. Jill
didn't repair the roof herself. She _had it repaired._
2. I
didn't cut my hair myself. I ---
3. They
didn't paint the house themselves. They ---
4. Sue
didn't make the curtains herself. ---
45.4 Use
the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use the structure 'have
something done'.
1. We
_are having the house painted_ (the house/paint) at the moment.
2. I
lost my key. I'll have to --- (another key/make).
3. When
was the last time you --- (your hair/cut)?
4. You
look different --- (you/your hair/cut)?
5. ---
(you/a newspaper/deliver) to your house or do you go to the shop to buy one?
6. A:
What are those workmen doing in your garden?
B: Oh,
we --- (a swimming pool/build).
7. A:
Can I see the photographs you took when you were on holiday?
B: I'm
afraid I --- (not/the film/develop) yet.
8. This
coat is dirty. I must --- (it/clean).
9. If
you want to wear earrings, why don't you --- (your ears/pierce)?
45.5 Now
you have to use 'have something done' with its second meaning (see Section C).
1.
George's nose was broken in a fight.
What
happened to George? _He had his nose broken in a fight._
2.
Sarah's bag was stolen on a train.
What
happened to Sarah? She ---
3.
Fred's hat was blown off in the wind.
What
happened to Fred? ---
4.
Diane's passport was taken away from her by the police.
What
happened to Diane? ---
Answers
45.1
1 b 2 a 3
a 4 b
45.2
2 To
have it cleaned.
3 To
have it repaired.
4 To
have my hair cut.
45.3
2 I had
it cut.
3 They
had it painted.
4 She
had them made.
45.4
2 have
another key made
3 had
your hair cut
4 Have
you had your hair cut
5 Do you
have a newspaper delivered
6 are
having a swimming pool built
7
haven't had the film developed
8 have
it cleaned
9 have
your ears pierced
45.5
2 She
had her bag stolen on a train.
3 He had
his hat blown off in the wind.
4 She
had her passport taken away from her by the police.
