CAUSATIVE VERBS.

Jack had his house painted.

This sentence is similar in meaning to: Someone painted Jack's house. OR Jack's house was painted by someone. Causative verbs express the idea of someone causing something to take place/to be done.

Functions and examples

1. We use causative have when intentionally arranging for someone to do something for us.  Structure: HAVE + THING/OBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE

They repaired their car. -- they did it themselvesThey had their car repaired. -- they arranged for someone to repair itI cut my hair yesterday. -- I cut it myselfI had my hair cut yesterday. -- I went to the hairdresser

2. We also use causative have when someone does something TO us, and there is no intentionallity on our part..

Bill had his money stolen by a thief.I had my house broken into a week ago.He had his books severely criticised by supposed experts.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

1. Get is possible instead of have, usually in informal spoken English. 

I'm going to get my car fixed tomorrow.He is going to get his back tatooed and his nose pierced.

2. We can also use “to have someone do something” or “get someone TO do something” to talk about giving instructions or orders -- more common in American English. 

- Have someone do something:

I had my assistant type the report. I'll have my lawyer look into it. 

- Get someone do something: This construction usually means "to convince someone to do something" or "to trick someone into doing something.

Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible. How can parents get their children to read more?

The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop smoking.

Get vs. Have

Sometimes "get someone to do something" is interchangeable with "have someone do something," but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing.

Examples:

I got the mechanic to check my brakes.AT FIRST THE MECHANIC DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY, BUT I CONVINCED HIM TO CHECK THE BRAKES.

I had the mechanic check my brakes.I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES.

EXERCISES:

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/221.html

http://web.uvic.ca/~gluton/class/hot%20potatoes%20files/Grammar%20exercises/causatives.htm

1.- My car broke down last week so I had to ............................................................. (repair)

2.- Have you ever thought of ................................................................................? (portrait / paint)

3.- I'm staying with my parents-in-law this month as I ......................................................... (my house / redecorate)

4.- He ............................................................ at the health centre yesterday (his blood pressure / check)

5.- How often ................................................. nowadays? (your hair / cut)

6.- Mary is ......................................................... tomorrow (her new computer / deliver)

7.- You are sitting very close to the TV. ........................................................... recently? (your eyes / test)

8.- Tom has just ........................................................... in his flat (a telephone / install)

9.- Why don't you ............................................... ? (that coat / clean)

10.- Ann's car is broken down so she will have to take it to the garage to ................................................... (it / fix)

11.- This tree is too tall I suppose I will ................................................. (it / cut down)

12.- My brother took very beautiful pictures but he .......................................................... (the film / develop)

13.- My car has a puncture but I have no time ................................................. (it / mend)

14.- My sister ...................................................... in the garden ( an apple tree / plant)

IN-CLASS SPEAKING LESSON PLAN

EXAMPLES OF COMPLAINTS AND ADVICE (CAUSATIVE GET/HAVE)COMPLAINT ADVICE

My battery is dead! (What should I do?) You should get or have it charged.Subject + should get or have + pronoun + past participle.My glasses are broken. (What should I do?) You should get/have them fixed.Subject + should get or have + pronoun + past participleMy coat is stained (dirty). ___________________________________My eyes hurt. _____________________________________________

PRACTICE WITH YOUR PARTNER

Person 1 complains Person 2 gives adviceMy hair is too long. ___________________________________My TV is broken. ____________________________________My teeth hurt. _______________________________________My shoes are too tight. ________________________________The roof leaks. _______________________________________My gas tank is empty. _________________________________

Person 2 complains Person 1 gives adviceMy knife is dull. _______________________________________My shirts are wrinkled. _______________________________________My shoes are too tight. _______________________________________My skirt is too short. _______________________________________My hair is grey. _______________________________________My license has expired. _______________________________________

Helpful vocabularyStretch, Iron, Lengthen, Repair, Color, dye, Sharpen, Shorten, Check, Renew