Have & Get It Done: The Delegators
The delegator's grammar: I had my hair cut, I got my car fixed. You arrange it, someone else does it — have/get + object + V3.
Causatives
The delegator’s grammar
The causative is how English delegates: you arrange the job, someone else does it. The V3 participle tells you the job; have or get tells you the deal.
Have + object + V3
arrange the jobI had my hair cut
Get + object + V3
the everyday twinI got my car fixed
Someone else does it
you pay, ask or arrangeWe will have the office painted
Get someone to + verb
when the doer is a personI got the plumber to fix the tap
⚠️ have/get + object + V3 — the job is arranged, not done by you.
The Formula
you do it → someone does it
The transformation is one swap: the doer leaves the sentence and the object becomes the star, followed by the V3 participle.
I cut my hair.
I. had my hair cut
The mechanic fixed my car.
I. got my car fixed
Someone will install the software.
We will. have the software installed
A doctor checks my eyes.
I. get my eyes checked
⚠️ have/get + object + V3. The V3 sits after the object — never before it.
Common Mistakes
Four delegation slips
The deal breaks when the object wanders, when the V3 forgets its shape, or when a person gets the wrong pattern.
I had cut my hair yesterday.
I had my hair cut yesterday.
💡 have + object + V3 — the object sits between.
I got fixed my car.
I got my car fixed.
💡 The object comes before the V3.
I had my hair cutted.
I had my hair cut.
💡 cut stays cut — an irregular V3.
I got my friend fixed my car.
I got my friend to fix my car.
💡 With a person: get someone to + verb.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned
Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.
I ___ my hair cut yesterday.
💡 Extra info2 sections
Do It or Delegate?
One question picks the pattern
The hands that do the job decide the grammar: your hands or someone else’s.
The Delegation Family
Match the pattern with the job
Four delegation patterns, four deals. Have is formal, get is everyday.
⚠️ Have is the formal suit, get is the everyday shirt.