Causative Verb Structures: English Grammar Explained

Mastering Causative Verbs: "Have Something Done"

This section demonstrates how to transform active sentences into causative structures using the verb "have" (or "get"), focusing on situations where the subject arranges for an action to be performed by someone else.

Example:

• John will have someone bring him the post. (John will have the post brought to him.)

Practice Sentences:

• The make-up artist was applying the model's lipstick. (The model was having lipstick applied.)
• Ask the cook to prepare the vegetables. (Have the vegetables prepared.)
• Have you told the accountant to check the figures? (Have you had the figures checked?)
• Jim hates the teacher correcting his mistakes. (Jim hates having his mistakes corrected.)
• Did the beautician paint Joanne's nails? (Did Joanne have her nails painted?)
• He told the maid to serve breakfast in his room. (He had breakfast served in his room.)
• Dad was late because the garage had been servicing his car. (Dad was late because he had been having his car serviced.)
• Pam is going to tell someone to repair the pipes. (Pam is going to have the pipes repaired.)
• My parents' house was burgled last Monday. (My parents had their house burgled last Monday.)
• He used to employ a chef who cooked his meals. (He used to have his meals cooked by a chef.)
• Does your mother ask for her shopping to be delivered to her house? (Does your mother have her shopping delivered to her house?)
• Did you pay an artist to paint a portrait of your family? (Did you have a portrait of your family painted?)
• Do you employ someone to clean your house? (Do you have your house cleaned?)
• Did you tell the tailor to make a suit for you? (Did you have a suit made?)
• Did Sheila ask the dressmaker to make her a dress? (Did Sheila have a dress made?)
• When will his photographs be developed? (When will he have his photographs developed?)
• The decorators are decorating Tim's house at the moment. (Tim is having his house decorated at the moment.)
• Your car needs to be serviced. (You need to have your car serviced.)
• The gardener was pruning Bob's bushes. (Bob was having his bushes pruned.)
• The manager had asked the secretary to book a room for him. (The manager had had a room booked.)
• I paid someone to fix the roof of my house. (I had the roof of my house fixed.)
• Let's ask the porter to carry the luggage to the taxi. (Let's have the luggage carried to the taxi.)
• Larry has got the plastic surgeon to remove his tattoo. (Larry has had his tattoo removed.)
• A nurse took her temperature. (She had her temperature taken.)