have sth done

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   to arrange for someone else to do a job or service for you

   Grammar: Formed with have + object + past participle: I had my car repaired. The action is done by another person, not by you.

   Patterns

   • have something done
   • have something done by someone
   • have your hair cut / have your car repaired

   I need to have my hair cut before the wedding.

   They had their house painted last summer.

   She had the documents translated by a professional.

2. 2phraseidiom

   to experience something unpleasant that someone or something does to you

   Grammar: Often used for bad experiences: He had his wallet stolen. The subject did not do the action.

   Patterns

   • have something stolen / broken / taken
   • have something done to you

   He had his wallet stolen on the bus.

   We had our flight canceled because of the storm.

Common combinations

have your hair cut

I'm going to have my hair cut this afternoon.

have something repaired

You should have that broken window repaired.

have something delivered

We had the sofa delivered to our new apartment.

have something cleaned

She has her carpets cleaned twice a year.

Synonyms and how they differ

get something done

This is very similar and often more informal; 'get' can also suggest you did it yourself in some contexts, while 'have' clearly means someone else did it.

Commonly confused: have sth done or have done something?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “have sth done”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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