Causative verbs “have” and “get” have more or less the same meaning in sentences. They make the meaning passive. The subject causes something to be done to someone or something else (e.g., “He had the car fixed”).

We can use the verbs “have” followed by Verb III. The verb III has passive meaning. In this case, we are usually the one who arranged for someone else to do something. Let’s see the following examples.

1. I had my hair cut. (My hair was cut by somebody and I made someone do it.)
2. I had my car repaired. (My car was repaired by somebody) (I asked somebody to repair it)
3. I’m going to have a telephone installed in our new house. (A telephone will be installed by somebody because I am going to ask someone to install it)
4. I had this coat cleaned two days ago. (This coat was cleaned by somebody. And, I asked someone to do it.)
5. I want to have this suit ironed. (It means I want somebody to iron the suit)

We can also use the verbs get followed by verb III. Similarly, the verb III has passive meaning. We are the one who arranged for someone else to do something. ‘Get’ is slightly more informal than ‘have’.  Let’s see the following examples.

1. Can I get my hair cut?
2. I’ll get my house painted blue.
3. I got my car repaired last month. It’s okay now.
4. Can I get my photograph taken?
5. She wants to have her documents printed.

Causative Verbs Exercises

Exercise I

Underline the correct word in parentheses.

Example:

I must (sell, sold) this laptop

 

1. We must (clean, cleaned) our house.

2. She always gets her nails (manicure, manicured).

3. We must have our car (fix, fixed).

4. You should (check, checked) your car before your trip.

5. Many couples have their wedding party (delay, delayed).

6. Have you got your house (paint, painted)?

7. We must never (neglect, neglected) our family.

8. I must get this bottle (refill, refilled).

9. Are you going to get your bed (split, splitted)?

10. Please have everyone (inform, informed).

Exercise II

Change the sentence into the causative form.

Example:

I pulled out one of my teeth.

👉 I had one of my teeth pulled out.

 

1. She cuts her hair once a year.

2. I should colour my hair every month.

3. We must renovate the mosque.

4. I sent the parcel yesterday.

5. My wife ironed these jeans.

6. She has informed her husband.

7. I must repair my smartphone.

8. I had to sell my laptop because I was broke.

9. My father mended his shoes this morning.

10. She cleans her clothes every Saturday.

Answer

Exercise I

1. We must (clean, cleaned) our house.

2. She always gets her nails (manicure, manicured).

3. We must have our car (fix, fixed).

4. You should (check, checked) your car before your trip.

5. Many couples have their wedding party (delay, delayed).

6. Have you got your house (paint, painted)?

7. We must never (neglect, neglected) our family.

8. I must get this bottle (refill, refilled).

9. Are you going to get your bed (split, splitted)?

10. Please have everyone (inform, informed).

 

Exercise II

1. She has/gets her hair cut once a year.

2. I should have/get my hair colored every month.

3. We must have/get the mosque renovated.

4. I had/got the parcel sent yesterday.

5. My wife had/got these jeans ironed.

6. She has had/got her husband informed.

7. I must have/get my smartphone repaired.

8. I had to have/get my laptop sold because I was broke.

9. My father had/got his shoes mended this morning.

10. She has/gets her clothes cleaned every Saturday.

Other Exercises