“Have something done” and “get something done” use a causative structure: you arrange for another person to do a service for you, and you focus on the result, not on who does it. The pattern is common for paid services, repairs, and professional help. It does not mean you personally do the action.

Use: have or get + object + past participle. The object is the thing or person affected, and the past participle describes the completed service. This structure is different from simple active verbs because the performer is usually not mentioned.

Rule	Example
have|get + object + past participle	I had my car repaired.
Object is the affected thing, not the doer	She got her hair cut.
You can add the doer with by if needed	We had the documents translated by a professional.

“Have” is neutral and slightly more formal. “Get” is more conversational and often suggests you made an effort to arrange it or that it took some work. In most everyday contexts, both are acceptable and interchangeable.

Rule	Example
Use have for neutral, planned services	I’m having the kitchen painted next week.
Use get for informal tone and practical effort	I finally got the sink fixed.
Both can describe the same service with small tone change	She had her eyes tested. / She got her eyes tested.

Conjugate have or get for tense and time. The past participle stays the same because it describes the service result. You can combine this structure with future plans, present arrangements, and past events.

Rule	Example
Present arrangement	I’m having my laptop checked today.
Past completed service	He got his passport renewed last month.
Future plan with will	We’ll have the roof inspected soon.
Present perfect for experience or recent result	I’ve had my teeth cleaned this year.

Make questions and negatives by using do-support or the correct auxiliary for the tense. The causative structure stays the same after have or get. This is useful for checking arrangements, confirming results, and clarifying responsibility.

Rule	Example
Present simple question with do	Do you get your hair cut here?
Present simple negative with do not	I don’t have my shirts dry-cleaned.
Past simple question with did	Did you have the car serviced?
With be as auxiliary	Are you having the package delivered today?

Usually, the person who does the work is unimportant or understood, so you omit them. If you need to specify who performed the service, add “by + agent.” If you need to specify who you arranged it with, you can also add “at + place” or “with + provider.”

Rule	Example
Specify the doer with by	They had the contract reviewed by a lawyer.
Specify the provider with with	I got my phone repaired with a local technician.
Specify the location with at	We had our photos printed at the pharmacy.

This structure can sound similar to the passive because the focus is on the object and the result. The key difference is that “have/get something done” includes the idea of arranging or causing the action, not just that it happened. This helps you communicate responsibility for organizing the service.

Rule	Example
Passive describes what happened	My car was repaired yesterday.
Causative shows you arranged it	I had my car repaired yesterday.
You can use both when needed	The door was fixed, but we had it fixed by a specialist.

“Get something done” can also describe an unpleasant or unexpected event that happens to you, often when someone does something to you without your permission. “Have something done” can be used this way too, but it is less common; it more strongly suggests you arranged it. Context and tone are important here.

Rule	Example
Get + object + past participle for unwanted experience	He got his wallet stolen.
Get can highlight the negative impact on you	She got her phone taken on the train.
Have usually implies you caused it, so use carefully	He had his wallet stolen.

These structures are especially common for services where you normally hire or ask someone else to do the work. The object is often something you own, your body, or official documents. Learning typical contexts makes the structure feel natural in conversation.

Word/Phrase	Definition	Example
have|get your hair cut	arrange a haircut service	I get my hair cut every month.
have|get your car serviced	arrange routine maintenance	We had the car serviced before the trip.
have|get something repaired	arrange a fix for a problem	She got the heater repaired.
have|get documents translated	arrange translation by someone else	I had the certificate translated.
have|get something delivered	arrange delivery to a place	They’re having a sofa delivered.

Do not confuse this structure with “have something to do” or “get something done” meaning finish a task yourself. “Have/get something done” is about a service done by another person, while “get something done” can also mean achieve or complete work. Use context to make your meaning clear.

Rule	Example
Service arranged for you	I had my watch repaired.
Complete a task yourself	I need to get my report done today.
Obligation or plan with have to	I have some calls to make.