Causative — Have / Get Something Done
B2 — grammar, vocabulary, writing, speaking
Kenji: Your new website looks amazing. Did you build it yourself?
Sofía: No, I had it designed by a friend — I just gave her the ideas.
Kenji: Smart. I always get my photos edited by someone else too, I have no eye for it.
Sofía: Exactly. You don't have to do everything yourself — just have it done well.
Common mistake: “I designed my logo by a professional.” — Correct: “I had my logo designed by a professional.”
Use have/get something done when someone else does a job for you — the subject arranges it, but doesn't do the action.
Who really does the action?| Structure | Example | Who does it? |
|---|
| have + object + past participle | I had my hair cut | A hairdresser, not me |
| get + object + past participle (more informal) | I got my car fixed | A mechanic, not me |
| Compare: I cut my hair | I cut my hair myself | Me |
- servicio have your hair cut — cortarse el pelo (te lo hace otra persona)
- servicio get your car fixed — hacer arreglar el carro
- servicio have your logo designed — mandar a diseñar el logo
- servicio get your teeth checked — hacerse revisar los dientes
- Sofía had her website redesigned last month.
- Ben gets his hair cut every three weeks.
- We're having the office painted this weekend.
- They had their photos taken by a professional.
- Sofía didn't have her logo designed by an agency; she did it herself.
- Ben doesn't get his shoes repaired, he just buys new ones.
- We haven't had the car serviced this year.
- Where did you have your website designed?
- Do you get your teeth checked every year?
- Have they had the roof fixed yet?
- Did Sofía have her website redesigned? Yes, she did.
- Does Ben get his hair cut often? Yes, he does.
- Have you had your car serviced this year? No, I haven't.
Practice
- Sofía ___ her website redesigned last month. (had, did, made)
- Ben gets his hair ___ every three weeks. (cut, cuts, cutting)
- We're having the office ___ this weekend. (painted, painting, paint)
- 'I had my logo designed' means I designed it myself.
- Causative 'have/get something done' uses the past participle of the verb.
- 'Get' is more informal than 'have' in this structure.
- Sofía had her website ___ (redesign) last month.
- We're getting the office ___ (paint) this weekend.
- They had their photos ___ (take) by a professional.
- Unscramble: Sofía, had, her, logo, designed, by, a, friend
- Unscramble: Ben, gets, his, hair, cut, every, month
- Find the mistake: I designed my logo by a professional.
- A friend designed Sofía's logo. — Rewrite using the causative (Sofía as subject).
- A mechanic fixed our car. — Rewrite using 'get' causative.
- Did Sofía have her website redesigned? — Answer with a short answer (Yes).
- Sofía had her logo designed by an agency. — Write the negative form.
- Do you get your hair cut often? (short answer, Yes)
Listening
Kenji: Your website looks so professional now.
Sofía: Thanks, I had it redesigned by a friend from design school.
Kenji: I need to get my resume looked at by someone too. I always mess up the formatting.
Sofía: I know someone who does that. She helped me get my portfolio organized last year.
Kenji: Perfect. I'll have her check it before I apply anywhere.
Reading
When Sofía started her studio, she tried to do everything herself — design, invoicing, even her own website. Three years later, she's learned to delegate. She had her website redesigned by a friend from design school, gets her invoices handled by an accountant twice a month, and even has her social media managed by an intern on weekends. 'I used to think doing it all myself made me a real professional,' she told Kenji. 'Now I know a real professional knows when to have something done by someone better at it.'
- Sofía designed her own website when her studio started.
- An accountant now handles her invoices.
- Sofía manages her own social media every day.
- Sofía believes real professionals never delegate.