Page 104 - English Grammar in Use

Unit
46 have something done

A Study this example situation:
The roof of Lisa’s house was damaged.
So she called a builder, and yesterday he came
and repaired it.
Lisa had the roof repaired yesterday.
This means: Lisa arranged for somebody else to
repair the roof. She didn’t repair it herself.

LISA
If you have something done, you arrange for somebody to do it for you.
Compare:
Lisa repaired the roof. (= she repaired it herself)
Lisa had the roof repaired. (= she arranged for somebody else to repair it)
a: Did you make those curtains yourself?
b: Yes, I like making things.
a: Did you have those curtains made?
b: No, I made them myself.

B Study the word order:
have object past participle

Lisa had the roof repaired.
Where did you have your hair cut?
We are having the house painted.
I think you should have that coat cleaned.
I don’t like having my picture taken.

We say:
How often do you have your car serviced? (not have serviced your car)

Our neighbour is having a garage built. (not having built a garage)
Your hair looks nice. Did you have it cut?

C get something done
You can say ‘get something done’ instead of ‘have something done’:
When are you going to get the roof repaired? (= have the roof repaired)
I think you should get your hair cut really short.

D We also use have something done with a different meaning. For example:
Paul and Karen had their bags stolen while they were travelling.
This does not mean that they arranged for somebody to steal their bags. ‘They had their bags stolen’
means only: ‘Their bags were stolen’.
With this meaning, we use have something done to say that something happens to somebody or their
belongings:
Gary had his nose broken in a fight. (= his nose was broken)
Have you ever had your bike stolen?

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