In this lesson, we look at the PASSIVE VOICE using the verbs HAVE and GET.
If you haven't already checked out the lesson on the standard PASSIVE VOICE, make sure to check them out. (Part 1: Why we use the passive voice | Part 2: Forming the passive ).
HAVE/GET + OBJ + PAST PARTICIPLE
FORM:
FUNCTION:
1. To say that you want sb to do sth for you, or to arrange sb to do sth for you
I get my hair cut once a month.
I'm having my living room repainted tomorrow.
The most common reason we use this structure is to say that we want or arrange for someone to do something for us. Often, this is a service that we pay for, and requires a specialist or professional to accomplish.
In the first example, this is the most natural way to describe this event. Similarly, I could use this to report that it has already happened.
I got my hair cut this morning.
We can use both GET and HAVE in this structure. GET is considered to be more common in speaking and in informal contexts, while HAVE sounds a little more formal.
We can use this structure with any basic tense, and it will carry the meaning of that basic tense (i.e. present simple = habits and routines; past simple = action finished in the past)
Here are some examples of this structure in different tenses.
I'm going to have my car serviced next Monday. (be going to = future plan or intention)
I got my nails done yesterday. (past simple = action finished in the past)
I've gotten the fridge repaired 6 times now. (present perfect simple = to describe how many)
I love getting my feet massaged at the end of the day. (verb pattern with love: love + verb-ing)
Do you know where I can get my computer fixed? (question form with modal verb can)
2. Use HAVE to say that you have experienced sth (often unpleasant)
During the flight, I had my carry-on bag stolen.
Unfortunately, she had to have her appendix removed.
In this function, we only use HAVE to describe experiences that happen to us. Most of the time, these experiences are unpleasant, unlucky or undesirable. As you can see in both examples, both of these situations are unpleasant.
We tend to use the past simple tense as we often use this function to describe unfortunate things that may have happened to us (when telling stories).
OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES
The following two structures have related, but different, meanings to the GET/HAVE PASSIVE, but are generally used in the ACTIVE VOICE (the passive is possible in the second one).
We use these structures to say that we want to persuade or force someone to do something for us.
GET SB TO DO STH
We use this structure to say that we asked or persuaded someone to do something for us. These actions typically do not involve paying someone (unlike the get/have passive). In the example above, we want to say that you asked your friend to cut your hair, and that your friend did it for free.
We can use this structure with any basic tense. This structure is NOT used in the passive.
I always get my husband to drive me to work.
Don't worry. I'll get my husband to fix it.
I've gotten my husband to deal with it several times.
MAKE SB DO STH
We use this structure to say that we forced someone to do something for us.
We can use this structure in the passive if we want to focus the sentence on the object and action (and not the person doing the ordering).
FINAL POINTS
Learners often question why need to use these (as well as the standard passive). They are all common in daily English. Compare the following sentences.
I cut my hair yesterday. (past simple active = the speaker 'I' cut their own hair)
My hair was cut yesterday. (past simple passive = sounds like you don't know who cut your hair, or it was involuntary)
I got my hair cut yesterday. (get/have passive = the speaker paid a professional to cut their hair)
I got my friend to cut my hair yesterday. (get sb to do sth = the speaker asked/persuaded their friend to cut their hair)