Page 91 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

H a v e / g e t s o m e t n m g a o n e ; w a r n s o m e i n m g
d o n e , e t c .

Have/get something done
We can use get or have followed by an object + past participle when we want to say that
somebody arranges for something to be done by someone else:
• We had/got the car delivered to the airport. (= it was delivered)
• While I was in Singapore I had/got my eyes tested. (= they were tested)
Got in this pattern is normally only used in conversation and informal writing.
Notice that the word order is important. Compare:
• We had the car delivered to the airport. (Someone else delivered the car) and
• We had delivered the car to the airport. (= past perfect; we delivered the car)
B We use have... We use get...

if it is clear that the person referred to in when we say that the person referred to in
the subject of the sentence is not responsible the subject of the sentence does something
for or has no control over what happens: themselves, causes what happens, perhaps
n • I had my appendix removed when accidentally, or is to blame for it:
• I was six. • I'll get the house cleaned if you cook the
• They had their car broken into again. dinner. (= I'll clean the house)
However, in informal speech some • Sue got her fingers trapped in the bicycle
people use get in sentences like this. chain. (= Sue trapped her fingers)

We prefer have if we want to focus on the result of the action rather than the action itself:
• I'll have the house cleaned by the time you get home.
• Sue had her fingers trapped in the bike chain for half an hour.

We use won't (or will not) have, not get, if we want to say that we won't allow something to
happen to someone or something:
• I won't have him spoken to like that.
• I won't have my name dragged through the dirt by the press.
Want something done, etc.
We use need, prefer, want, and would like followed by an object + past participle to say that we
need, prefer, etc. something to be done. Notice that we can include to be before the past
participle form with a similar meaning. After need we can use an object + -ing with the same
meaning, but we can't use to be with an -ing form:
Be careful washing those glasses! I don't want them (to be) broken.
i We needed the house (to be) redecorated, (or ...the house redecorating.)

• I'd like my car (to be) serviced, please.
Hear, feel, see, watch
We can use hear, feel, see and watch followed by an object + past participle to talk about
hearing, etc. something happen. After feel, the object is often a reflexive pronoun:
• I haven't heard the piece played before, and • I felt myself thrown forward.
Compare:
• I heard her called Toni. (passive meaning; = she was called Toni) and
• I heard Sue call Toni. (active meaning; = Sue called Toni)

Have and have got --