Verbos Causativos: Hacer/Conseguir que algo se haga (Organizar Servicios)
have/get something done to talk about services you arrange for others to complete.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'have' or 'get' + object + past participle when someone else performs a service for you.
- Use 'have' for formal services: 'I had my car fixed.' (max 20 words)
- Use 'get' for informal/persuasive tasks: 'I got my hair cut.'
- The object always goes between the verb and the participle: 'Have + [Object] + [V3].'
Overview
have/get something done. Para nosotros, los hispanohablantes, entender esto es fundamental, ya que en español solemos usar construcciones reflexivas o verbos en voz activa que pueden sonar ambiguos en inglés.have something done y get something done es un salto de calidad enorme para cualquier estudiante de nivel B2, ya que te permite sonar mucho más fluido y natural, alejándote de las traducciones literales que a veces nos hacen sonar como si hiciéramos todo nosotros mismos. ¡Ojo! Aunque have y get son frecuentemente intercambiables, have es más neutro y estándar, mientras que get puede sonar un poco más informal o sugerir que hubo cierto esfuerzo o gestión personal para que el servicio se llevara a cabo.have y get es sutil pero importante:have something done: Es la opción estándar, neutral y más formal. Es la que usarías en un entorno profesional o cuando el servicio es algo rutinario. Por ejemplo,We have our accounts audited annually(Auditamos nuestras cuentas anualmente). Es la forma correcta de hablar de servicios profesionales donde la relación es puramente transaccional.
get something done: Es más coloquial. A menudo implica que tuviste que esforzarte, presionar a alguien o superar un obstáculo para conseguir que la tarea se realizara. Si dicesI finally got my laptop repaired, el uso degetsugiere que quizás estuviste esperando mucho tiempo o que fue difícil encontrar un técnico, dándole un matiz más personal o dinámico a la frase.
have | Estructura con get | Ejemplo |have/has ... done | get/gets ... done | She gets her hair cut. |had ... done | got ... done | I had my car fixed. |will have ... done | will get ... done | We will have it cleaned. |am/is/are having ... done | am/is/are getting ... done | I am having my nails done. |written, seen, cut). Nunca cambia, sin importar el tiempo verbal de have o get.- 1Servicios pagados: Cuando contratas a alguien.
I'm having my house painted(Estoy haciendo que pinten mi casa). - 2Cuidado personal: Muy común en salones de belleza o clínicas.
I need to get my teeth cleaned(Necesito que me limpien los dientes). - 3Eventos desafortunados: Aquí es donde muchos fallan. Se usa para algo negativo que te pasó, aunque no lo hayas 'gestionado' tú.
I had my wallet stolen(Me robaron la cartera). En español usamos el 'se' ('se me robó'), pero en inglés eshave something stolen. - 4Delegación profesional: En el trabajo.
I had my assistant prepare the report(Aquí cuidado: si mencionas a la persona, cambia ahave + person + verb, pero si te enfocas en el documento, dicesI had the report prepared).
- 1Confusión con la voz activa: Decir
I had the mechanic repaired my car. Esto es un error grave. Si incluyes al agente (the mechanic), no puedes usar el participio. Lo correcto esI had the mechanic repair my car(infinitivo) oI had my car repaired(pasiva). - 2Olvidar el participio: Decir
I need to get my suit to clean. Esto suena como si el traje fuera a limpiarse solo. Debes usar el participio:I need to get my suit cleaned. - 3Orden de las palabras: Decir
I had repaired my car. Esto significa 'Yo reparé mi coche' (en pasado perfecto). El objeto debe ir en medio:I had my car repaired.
I painted my house | Yo pinté mi casa | Tú hiciste el trabajo físico. |I had my house painted | Mandé pintar mi casa | Alguien más lo hizo por ti. |I had the painter paint it | Hice que el pintor lo pintara | Mencionas al agente (activo). |- 1¿Es
getsiempre igual ahave? En contextos neutros sí, perogetes más informal y a veces implica un esfuerzo extra. - 2¿Puedo usar esto para cosas negativas? ¡Definitivamente! Es la forma correcta de expresar 'me rompieron el cristal' (
I had my window broken). - 3¿El participio cambia con el género? No, el inglés no tiene género gramatical, así que el participio es invariable.
Conjugating 'Have Something Done'
| Tense | Subject | Have/Get | Object | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I
|
have
|
my car
|
serviced.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
She
|
is having
|
her hair
|
cut.
|
|
Past Simple
|
We
|
had
|
the roof
|
repaired.
|
|
Past Continuous
|
They
|
were getting
|
the house
|
painted.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
I
|
have had
|
my watch
|
fixed.
|
|
Future (will)
|
You
|
will have
|
the report
|
typed.
|
|
Modals
|
He
|
should get
|
his eyes
|
checked.
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
I have had
|
I've had
|
I've had my hair cut.
|
|
She is having
|
She's having
|
She's having it fixed.
|
|
I will have
|
I'll have
|
I'll have it done.
|
Meanings
A structure used to describe a situation where we do not perform an action ourselves, but instead arrange for someone else to do it for us, usually a professional or a service provider.
Arranging Services
Paying or asking someone to do a job for you.
“She is having her laptop repaired.”
“We need to get the carpets cleaned.”
Unpleasant Experiences
Describing something bad that happened to you (where you didn't arrange it, but it affected your property).
“He had his phone stolen on the subway.”
“They had their flight cancelled at the last minute.”
Persuasion/Completion
Using 'get' to emphasize the effort or persuasion required to finish a task.
“I finally got the kids to finish their homework.”
“It took ages, but I got the engine started.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + have + obj + V3
|
I had my phone repaired.
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + auxiliary + not + have + obj + V3
|
I didn't have my phone repaired.
|
|
Question
|
Auxiliary + subj + have + obj + V3?
|
Did you have your phone repaired?
|
|
Informal
|
Subj + get + obj + V3
|
I got my phone repaired.
|
|
Experience
|
Subj + have + obj + V3 (unpleasant)
|
He had his car stolen.
|
|
Continuous
|
Subj + be + having + obj + V3
|
We are having the house painted.
|
Espectro de formalidad
We had the fleet vehicles serviced by the authorized dealer. (Car repair)
I had my car fixed at the garage. (Car repair)
I got my car fixed. (Car repair)
I got my ride sorted. (Car repair)
The Passive Causative Ecosystem
Services
- Haircut Have hair cut
- Car Repair Get car fixed
Accidents
- Theft Have wallet stolen
- Damage Have window broken
Active vs. Passive Causative
Should I use Passive Causative?
Did you do the work yourself?
Is it a professional service?
Common Objects for Causatives
Body
- • Hair cut
- • Eyes tested
- • Teeth cleaned
Home
- • Roof repaired
- • House painted
- • Carpets cleaned
Ejemplos por nivel
I have a clean car.
I have a clean car.
The barber cuts my hair.
The barber cuts my hair.
I wash my bike.
I wash my bike.
He fixes the phone.
He fixes the phone.
I had my hair cut yesterday.
I had my hair cut yesterday.
She gets her car washed every week.
She gets her car washed every week.
We had the pizza delivered.
We had the pizza delivered.
Do you have your house cleaned?
Do you have your house cleaned?
I'm going to have my eyes tested tomorrow.
I'm going to have my eyes tested tomorrow.
He's having his kitchen repainted at the moment.
He's having his kitchen repainted at the moment.
You should get your coat dry-cleaned.
You should get your coat dry-cleaned.
We didn't have the windows cleaned last month.
We didn't have the windows cleaned last month.
I've just had my wisdom teeth removed.
I've just had my wisdom teeth removed.
We need to get the contract signed by the director.
We need to get the contract signed by the director.
Have you ever had your identity stolen?
Have you ever had your identity stolen?
I'll have my assistant call you with the details.
I'll have my assistant call you with the details.
The CEO had the entire department restructured.
The CEO had the entire department restructured.
It's high time you had that leak looked at.
It's high time you had that leak looked at.
She got herself caught up in a very difficult situation.
She got herself caught up in a very difficult situation.
We had our application rejected without any explanation.
We had our application rejected without any explanation.
The diplomat had his credentials revoked following the scandal.
The diplomat had his credentials revoked following the scandal.
I won't have my integrity questioned by someone like him.
I won't have my integrity questioned by someone like him.
They had the manuscript painstakingly restored by experts.
They had the manuscript painstakingly restored by experts.
To have one's life's work dismissed so casually is heartbreaking.
To have one's life's work dismissed so casually is heartbreaking.
Fácil de confundir
Learners confuse 'I had fixed my car' (Past Perfect) with 'I had my car fixed' (Causative).
Learners forget the 'to' in 'I got him to fix it' but try to use it in 'I got it fixed'.
Learners think 'My car was fixed' is the same as 'I had my car fixed'.
Errores comunes
I cut my hair (at the salon).
I had my hair cut.
I have my car fix.
I have my car fixed.
I had fixed my car.
I had my car fixed.
I wash my car yesterday (by a man).
I had my car washed.
I am having cut my hair.
I am having my hair cut.
Did you had your car fixed?
Did you have your car fixed?
I got my house paint.
I got my house painted.
I had my wallet steal.
I had my wallet stolen.
I had the mechanic to fix my car.
I had the mechanic fix my car.
I got fixed my computer.
I got my computer fixed.
I had my hair been cut.
I had my hair cut.
I got my car stolen.
I had my car stolen.
They had the work doing.
They had the work done.
Patrones de oraciones
I need to have my ___ ___.
Where can I get my ___ ___?
I'm thinking of having the ___ ___.
He had his ___ ___ while he was ___.
Real World Usage
I'd like to have my hair dyed blonde.
I need to get my brakes checked.
We are having the quarterly reports reviewed by the legal team.
We're having a new security system installed.
I had my passport stolen at the airport.
You should have that mole looked at by a dermatologist.
The 'By' Rule
Don't Forget the V3
Get for Persuasion
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always use 'have' or 'get'. If you say 'I fixed my car,' people will ask you for mechanical advice!
Swap 'have' for 'get'. It's the #1 way to sound more natural in a coffee shop or with friends.
Use 'have' + object + V3 to describe the event without sounding like you caused it.
Remember: The 'Thing' goes in the 'Middle'. Have + Thing + Done.
Pronunciación
Weak 'have'
In the causative, 'have' is often unstressed and sounds like /həv/ or even /əv/.
Linking 'get'
When using 'get', the 't' often links to the following object if it starts with a vowel.
Focus on the Participle
I had my car FIXED ↗
Emphasizes that the action is completed.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
H.O.P.: Have + Object + Participle. Remember the HOP to the shop for a service!
Asociación visual
Imagine a wealthy person sitting on a sofa pointing at a broken window while a repairman fixes it. The person isn't touching the window; they are 'having it fixed.'
Rhyme
If you didn't do the chore, use 'have' and 'get' to say much more. Put the object in the middle, and the V3 ends the riddle.
Story
Last week, I was too busy to do anything. I had my car washed by a pro, I got my suit cleaned for the party, and I even had my groceries delivered. I didn't lift a finger, but everything got done!
Word Web
Desafío
Look around your room. Identify three things that you didn't make or fix yourself. Say out loud: 'I had this [object] [V3].' (e.g., 'I had this wall painted.')
Notas culturales
BrE speakers use 'have something done' very frequently for even minor services. It sounds more polite and less 'demanding' than active forms.
AmE speakers use 'get something done' much more often in daily conversation than BrE speakers, reflecting a more informal, action-oriented culture.
In corporate settings, using 'have' (e.g., 'We had the report audited') is a way to show delegation and professional oversight without taking personal credit for the manual labor.
The causative 'have' developed in Middle English as an extension of the possessive 'have'.
Inicios de conversación
When was the last time you had your hair cut?
Have you ever had anything stolen while traveling?
If you won the lottery, what chores would you have done for you?
How often do you get your car serviced?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
Which sentence means someone else fixed the computer?
She is ___ her house ___ (have / paint) at the moment.
Find and fix the mistake:
I got repaired my watch yesterday.
The mechanic is checking my brakes.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Select the informal version of 'I had my car repaired.'
Next week, I ___ my wisdom teeth ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
He got his window broken in the storm.
Score: /8
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesWhich sentence means someone else fixed the computer?
She is ___ her house ___ (have / paint) at the moment.
Find and fix the mistake:
I got repaired my watch yesterday.
The mechanic is checking my brakes.
1. Haircut, 2. Stolen Bag, 3. Eye Test
Select the informal version of 'I had my car repaired.'
Next week, I ___ my wisdom teeth ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
He got his window broken in the storm.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesI need to ____ my laptop fixed as soon as possible.
She is going to have her teeth clean next week.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Hice que me revisaran los ojos ayer.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct ending:
They ____ their kitchen renovated last year.
I had my computer to fix yesterday.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella consiguió que le entregaran el paquete rápidamente.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Score: /11
Preguntas frecuentes (10)
Almost, but avoid it for accidents. 'I got my wallet stolen' sounds like you wanted it to happen. Use 'I had my wallet stolen' instead.
The first is the causative (someone else did it). The second is the Past Perfect (you did it yourself before another past action).
Usually no. We only add `by + person` if the specific person is surprising or important to the story.
Yes, it is very common in spoken English, though 'have' is preferred in formal writing.
Yes! 'You should have your car serviced' or 'I must get my eyes checked' are perfect examples.
Because the object (the car, the hair) receives the action, just like in a normal passive sentence.
No. You must use the past participle (V3). 'Cutting' is the present participle and is incorrect here.
It has the same meaning, but it is an 'Active Causative'. It focuses on the barber, not the hair.
Use the auxiliary 'don't/didn't/won't'. For example: 'I didn't have my house painted.'
No. 'Make' implies force or obligation (e.g., 'I made him clean it'), which is different from arranging a service.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Mandar a + infinitive / Hacerse
English uses V3 (past participle), Spanish uses the infinitive.
Faire + infinitive
In French, the object comes after both verbs; in English, it's in the middle.
Lassen
German uses the infinitive 'schneiden' (to cut) while English uses 'cut' (past participle).
~shite morau / ~saseru
Japanese focuses on the favor/benefit; English focuses on the arrangement.
Form II verbs (Causative)
Arabic uses internal verb changes; English uses a periphrastic (multi-word) structure.
Rang / Jiao / Qing
Chinese usually requires naming the person (the barber, the mechanic), whereas English omits them.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Videos relacionados
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