Have Something Done
Causative Have & Get — Arrangements, Word Order & Unplanned Events
Have Something Done
Causatif Have & Get — Arrangements, Ordre des Mots & Événements Subis
Master have something done (causative — arrange for someone else to do it), get something done (same meaning), and have something done when something happens to you
Maîtrisez have something done (causatif — faire faire quelque chose), get something done (même sens), et have something done quand quelque chose vous arrive
When you have something done, you don't do it yourself — you arrange for someone else to do it for you. This is called the causative. The same meaning can be expressed with get something done. There is also a second use: when something happens to you or your belongings without you arranging it.
Quand vous have something done, vous ne le faites pas vous-même — vous organisez pour que quelqu'un d'autre le fasse à votre place. C'est ce qu'on appelle le causatif. On peut aussi utiliser get something done avec le même sens. Il existe aussi un deuxième usage : quand quelque chose vous arrive sans que vous l'ayez arrangé.
Have Something Done — Causative (Arranging for Someone Else)
Have Something Done — Causatif (Faire Faire par Quelqu'un d'Autre)
If you have something done, you arrange for somebody else to do it for you. You don't do it yourself.
Si vous have something done, vous arrangez pour que quelqu'un d'autre le fasse à votre place. Vous ne le faites pas vous-même.
Did it herself
L'a fait elle-même
Arranged for someone else
Arrangé pour quelqu'un d'autre
Word Order: Have + Object + Past Participle & Get Something Done
Ordre des Mots : Have + Objet + Participe Passé & Get Something Done
The object always comes between have and the past participle — never after it.
L'objet se place toujours entre have et le participe passé — jamais après.
| have | object | past participle |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa had | the roof | repaired. |
| Where did you have | your hair | cut? |
| We are having | the house | painted. |
| I think you should have | that coat | cleaned. |
| I don't like having | my picture | taken. |
✓ Our neighbour is having a garage built. ✗ having built a garage ✓ How often do you have your car serviced? ✗ have serviced your car
✓ Our neighbour is having a garage built. ✗ having built a garage
You can say get something done instead of have something done. The meaning is the same.
On peut dire get something done à la place de have something done. Le sens est identique.
Have Something Done — Unplanned Events (Something Happens to You)
Have Something Done — Événements Subis (Quelque Chose Vous Arrive)
We also use have something done when something happens to somebody or their belongings — usually something bad that they didn't arrange.
On utilise aussi have something done quand quelque chose arrive à quelqu'un ou à ses affaires — généralement quelque chose de négatif qu'il n'avait pas arrangé.
Exercise 1 — Choose the correct sentence (a or b) for each situation
Exercice 1 — Choisissez la phrase correcte (a ou b) pour chaque situation
Think about whether the person did it themselves or arranged for someone else.
Réfléchissez si la personne l'a fait elle-même ou a arrangé pour quelqu'un d'autre.
Sarah is at a salon — a stylist is cutting her hair.
Sarah est chez un coiffeur — un styliste lui coupe les cheveux.
Dan is standing in front of a mirror with scissors, trimming his own hair.
Dan se tient devant un miroir avec des ciseaux, se coupant lui-même les cheveux.
Kate is standing back watching a professional painter work on her gate.
Kate regarde un peintre professionnel travailler sur son portail.
Sue is posing for a photographer who is taking her photo.
Sue pose pour un photographe qui lui prend une photo.
Exercise 2 — Put the words in the correct order
Exercice 2 — Mettez les mots dans le bon ordre
Remember: have + object + past participle.
Rappel : have + objet + participe passé.
Exercise 3 — Rewrite using have it/them + past participle
Exercice 3 — Réécrivez avec have it/them + participe passé
Example: Lisa didn't repair the roof herself. She had it repaired.
Exemple : Lisa didn't repair the roof herself. She had it repaired.
Exercise 4 — Match the problem with the solution (get something done)
Exercice 4 — Associez le problème à la solution (get something done)
Write the correct letter (a–f) for each sentence.
Écrivez la lettre correcte (a–f) pour chaque phrase.
Exercise 5 — Unplanned events: complete using have + object + past participle
Exercice 5 — Événements subis : complétez avec have + objet + participe passé
These are things that happened TO the people — they didn't arrange them.
Ce sont des choses qui sont arrivées AUX personnes — ils ne les ont pas arrangées.
Frequently Asked Questions — Have Something Done
Questions fréquentes — Have Something Done
Lisa repaired the roof = Lisa did it herself. Lisa had the roof repaired = Lisa arranged for somebody else (e.g. a builder) to repair it. The causative structure tells us the subject organised the action but didn't perform it personally.
Lisa repaired the roof = Lisa l'a fait elle-même. Lisa had the roof repaired = Lisa a arrangé pour que quelqu'un d'autre (ex. un maçon) le répare.
The structure is always: have + object + past participle. The object must come between have and the past participle. ✓ I had my car serviced. ✗ I had serviced my car.
La structure est toujours : have + objet + participe passé. ✓ I had my car serviced. ✗ I had serviced my car.
Yes, they have the same meaning. The word order is identical: get + object + past participle. Get something done is slightly more informal and common in spoken English.
Oui, ils ont le même sens. L'ordre des mots est aussi identique : get + objet + participe passé.
When we describe an unplanned or unwanted event. Paul had his bags stolen does NOT mean he arranged for someone to steal his bags — it means his bags were stolen.
Quand on décrit un événement non planifié. Paul had his bags stolen ne veut PAS dire qu'il a arrangé le vol.
⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz
Ready to take your English to the next level?
Prêt à passer votre anglais au niveau supérieur ?
Discover our expert-led courses and certifications — funded options available.
Découvrez nos cours et certifications avec des formateurs experts — options de financement disponibles.
English Courses with CPF
Formations d’Anglais avec CPF
Use your Compte Personnel de Formation to fund your English training. Tailored, certified, and 100% financed.
Utilisez votre CPF pour financer votre apprentissage de l’anglais. Sur-mesure, certifié, 100 % financé.
Find out moreEn savoir plusAll Our English Courses
Tous Nos Cours d’Anglais
Explore our complete catalogue — from general English to business English, all levels welcome.
Explorez notre catalogue complet — anglais général, anglais professionnel, tous niveaux bienvenus.
Find out moreEn savoir plusExam Preparation Courses
Préparation aux Examens d’Anglais
Get ready for TOEIC, Linguaskill, Cambridge and more — structured prep with official certifications.
Préparez-vous au TOEIC, Linguaskill, Cambridge et plus — préparation structurée avec certifications officielles.
Find out moreEn savoir plus