CL GRAMMAR
Causative Verbs
Causative verbs
Causative structures indicate that one thing or person causes another thing or person to do something or
be something.
Examples of causatives
Have (give someone the responsibility to do something)
We use have + object + past participle when we want to talk about something that someone else does for us,
usually because we pay them, or because we persuade or ask them to do it. Compare:
We clean the house every Friday. (=we clean it ourselves)
We have the house cleaned every Friday. (=someone else cleans it for us)
The verb have is not an auxiliary verb in this construction. We need to use did or do for negative sentences
and questions when there is no auxiliary verb.
We don’t usually have the house painted, we do it ourselves. (NOT: We haven’t the house painted)
Did you have your house painted? It looks great. (NOT: Had you your house painted?)
We can use have something done in any verb tense.
I‘m going to have my hair cut tomorrow.
She‘s having her house redecorated.
I‘ve had the oil in my car changed.
She had her hair cut yesterday.
I had John fix the car
I had my hair cut
Get (convince or trick someone into doing something)
In informal English, we can use get + object + past participle with the same meaning as have something
done.
I need to get my eyes tested.
They got their home rebuilt after the earthquake.
She got her legs burned in the fire. (negative experience)
He got the mechanic to repair the machine.
She got him to read more.
We can also use the construction get + someone + to+ infinitive to talk about someone doing something for
us, because we are paying them, or because we asked or convinced them to do it. However, get someone to
do something often implies the idea that you have convinced someone to do something.
I got a mechanic to take a look at the car.
Tom’s boss got him to go to a conference in Germany.
Other causative verbs
Make (force someone to do something)
The teacher made the students work in groups
Our boss made us work extra hours
Let (allow someone do something)
Jane let her son go out
They let the children play in the yard
Other causative verbs include:
allow, help, enable, keep, hold, force, require, persuade
Exercise 1
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences below.
1We had a web designer ………………………………..our website.
a. To make
b. Made
c. make
2We should get ……………………….before we can launch the new product.
a. New logo to design
b. To design a new logo
c. A new logo designed
3From now on, I'm going to have ……………………….more often.
a. My car to wash
b. My car wash
c. My car washed
4You should have …………………………….to your hair. It looks horrible.
a. To do something
b. Something to do
c. Something done
5She told me that she'd had ……………………….with a titanium prosthesis.
a. Replaced her hip
b. Her hip replace
c. Her hip replaced
6We got an approved mechanic ……………………………….our car.
a. To inspect
b. To have inspected
c. inspect
7Call us and you will get …………………………………………..for free.
a. Your old fridge collected
b. Your old fridge collect
c. To collect your old fridge
8We ……………………………………..while we were away on holiday.
a. Had burgled our flat
b. Had our flat burgled
c. Got our flat burgled
9You should have ……………………………..a long time ago.
a. To repair your car
b. Your car repaired
c. Had your car repaired
10We could …………………………no-one to fix it.
a. Get
b. Have
c. To have
Exercise 2
Choose the correct option for each gap below.
Page 1 of 2
1I don't have my watch. I'm _______ at the shop.
a.having to repair it c.having it repair
b.having it repaired d.repairing
2We need to _______. They are really dirty.
a.have the windows clean c.get to clean the windows
b.have the windows to clean d.get the windows cleaned
3I'll get _______ my tires.
a.someone to replace c.to replace
b.someone replace d.someone replacing
4I'm _______ by a local dressmaker.
a.having my dress made c.having my dress make
b.getting to make my dress d.making my dress
5I _______ at the pub last night.
a.had stolen my jacket c.got my jacket stolen
b.got my jacket to steal d.stole my jacket
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences using the correct form of have something done and the words in
brackets.
1I've just called my hairdresser and next Monday I'm ………………………………… (cut/my hair).
2We normally ……………………………………. (paint/our house) every other year.
3The storm damaged our roof and we needed to …………………………… (repair/it).
4There is a lot of noise now because the neighbours ………………………………… (build/a new wall).
5You should ………………………. (pull out/this tooth) if it hurts so much.
6We ……………………………….. (install/an alarm) last October.
7David ………………………………….. (remove/his tonsils) when he was 9.
8I think you don't see too well. Tell me, ………………………………………… (you/ever/test/your eyes)?
9Are you going to redecorate the house yourselves or ……………………… (redecorate/it) by a professional?
10I ……………………………………………. (never/service/my car) yet.
