Lessons 53–55 · 3 lessons · L. Jurayev, M. Abdullayeva, H. Tuhtarova, S. Khan, L. Tsoy, K. Inogamova, L. Matskevich, R. Ziryanova. Fly High English 9 (English, Grade 9), revised and expanded 2nd edition. “Yangiyo‘l Poligraf Servis”, Tashkent, 2014
53
We have had the house painted
Textbook: p. 81
GoalHave something done: talking about services done for us by others (I had my hair cut; We’ve had the house painted); different tenses and get.
When we do not do a job ourselves but another person does it for us, we use have something done: have + object + past participle. I had my hair cut = I did not cut it myself; a hairdresser did. The pattern works in all tenses and after modal verbs: We’re having the gate repaired today. I’ve just had my glasses fixed. We’ll have the carpets cleaned next week. You must have your eyes tested. Have changes with the tense; the participle stays the same. Question: Where did you have your bike repaired? If we use get instead of have the meaning is the same: She got her shoes mended. Use it when the result matters and the doer is not important.
Worked examples
Before the school concert, our teacher had the piano tuned, the director had the hall decorated and we had our photos taken. We’re having the programmes printed tomorrow.
A: Your bike looks almost new! B: Yes, I had the brakes adjusted and the old chain replaced last week. I’m going to have the seat changed too.
Class activity
“What have they had done?”: pairs make sentences from picture cards (grandad / watch / repair → Grandad has had his watch repaired).
Practice
1
Rewrite: A tailor made my jacket. (I had ...)
I had my jacket made (by a tailor).
2
Write the correct form: We are having the windows (clean) today.
cleaned
3
Make a question: you / the roof / repair / recently
Have you had the roof repaired recently?
4
Why do we say “I had my hair cut” and not “I cut my hair” when a hairdresser does it?
“I cut my hair” means I did it myself; have something done shows that someone else did it.