Have something done

 If you ‘have something done’, you get somebody else to do something for you.

• I’m going to have my hair cut.
• She’s having her house redecorated.
• I’m having a copy of the report sent to you

In informal English, we can replace ‘have’ by ‘get’.

• We’re getting a new telephone system installed.
• They will be getting the system repaired as quickly as they can.
• I got the bill sent direct to the company.

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. 

• John had all his money stolen from his hotel bedroom.
• We had our car damaged by a falling tree.
• I got my nose broken playing rugby.

Quiz

#1. He had his hair —— by a trainee and he wasn’t happy with the result.

а) Scissored        b) Cut         c) Chopped

#2. They had their car —— because they parked in a no-parking zone.

a) Driven       b) Pulled        c) Towed

#3. I had my teeth —— because they were crooked.

a) Fixed        b) Got      c) Put

#4. He got his car —— when he was in the cinema.

a) Sold          b) Stolen         c) Spoken

#5. I’ve had the rubbish ——. The smell has gone.

a) Entered        b) Opened          c) Removed

#6. I had my car —— by a local garage.

a) Waited       b) Driven           c) Repaired

#7. Did you get your watch ——?

a) Fixed          b) Fabricated           c) Fired

#8. She had her nose —— because she thought it was ugly.

a) Made            b) Opened              c) Done

#9. Did you get your cat —— by the vet?

a) Sung          b) Seen             c) Selected

#10. I had my question —— by somebody online.

a) Actualised                b) Armed               c) Answered