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.

• service have your hair cut — pay a professional to cut your hair
• service get your car fixed — have a mechanic repair your car
• service have your logo designed — commission a designer to make a logo
• service get your teeth checked — have a dentist examine your teeth

• 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

1. Sofía ___ her website redesigned last month. (had, did, made)
2. Ben gets his hair ___ every three weeks. (cut, cuts, cutting)
3. We're having the office ___ this weekend. (painted, painting, paint)
4. 'I had my logo designed' means I designed it myself.
5. Causative 'have/get something done' uses the past participle of the verb.
6. 'Get' is more informal than 'have' in this structure.
7. Sofía had her website ___ (redesign) last month.
8. We're getting the office ___ (paint) this weekend.
9. They had their photos ___ (take) by a professional.
10. Unscramble: Sofía, had, her, logo, designed, by, a, friend
11. Unscramble: Ben, gets, his, hair, cut, every, month
12. Find the mistake: I designed my logo by a professional.
13. A friend designed Sofía's logo. — Rewrite using the causative (Sofía as subject).
14. A mechanic fixed our car. — Rewrite using 'get' causative.
15. Did Sofía have her website redesigned? — Answer with a short answer (Yes).
16. Sofía had her logo designed by an agency. — Write the negative form.
17. 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.