The Causative Form (Get/Have Something Done)

THEORY

Causative Verb is verb which is used to show that such a thing will be done by a person for the will of the other. In informal English, we can replace have by get. We can also use have/got something done in situations where something bad has happened to people or their possessions. This is not something they wanted to happen. We use have something done to mean someone else has done something for us. We can also use get (in unofficial English sentence) instead of had. And their meanings remain the same is to mean someone else has done something for us.

Have something done and Get something done are both used to refer to actions which are done for the subject rather than by the subject. Causative verbs are used instead of passive verbs to show that the subject causes the action to be done.

Note : The differences between have and get something done are that have is slightly more formal than get, and that get is more frequent than have in the imperative form.

In this case causative verbs are :

1.      HAVE

1)      Active Form

The formula : Subject + Have (any tenses and any form) + object + bare infinitive

For example : They have their children wash the car

2)      Passive Form

The formula : Subject + Have (any tenses and any form) + object + past participle

For example : We have the work finished on time

2.      GET

1)      Active Form

The formula : Subject + get (any tenses and any form) + object + (to) infinitive

For example : She gets the children to wash the car

2)      Passive Form

The formula : Subject + get (any tenses and any form) + object + past participle

For example : Tya gets the work finished on time

 

3.      NON-CAUSATIVE USES OF HAVE AND GET

Have and get are also used to refer to events which happened to someone, but were outside their control.

For example :

1)      After being late for work every day for two weeks, Billy had his pay reduced.

2)      I stood so close to the fire that I got my legs burnt.

EXAMPLE

I had my hair cut at a famous salon last week.

 I must go to the dry cleaner’s to have my suit cleaned.

 I must have the computer fixed this week.

 We are having the house painted this week.

She had the curtains sewn.

 My brother has taken the car to the garage to have it repaired.

 They have had a garage built.

 I have an appointment at the dentist’s to have my teeth cleaned.

You should have the windows cleaned. They look dirty.

 They are going to have their photograph taken.

EXERCISE

  

 I … (the lawn/ mow) …. by the gardener.

My neighbours … (a new tree)…. in their garden.

 Alyssa … (her portrait) … by Leonardo.

 My father … (the newspaper /deliver)… every morning.

 Our neighbours … (their roof / repair)… after the storm.

 I … (my shopping/ deliver) ….(past simple)

 My sister …. (the sink/fix) … by a plumber.

 He is going…. (his arm/x-ray)… tomorrow.

 We … (the milk/deliver)… every day.

You should have … (your eyes/ test) … once a year.

Referensi :

Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding And Using English Grammar, Second Edition