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Will have smth done explanation. Features of the use of “To have something done”. Future tense - Future Simple

If you want your interlocutor to understand you correctly, you must know the features and some constructions of the English language. For example, the construction have something done.

We use it when we want to tell our interlocutor that we used the services of professionals to do something. For example, when we say:

“I cut my hair. He fixed the phone. She dyed her hair. They did the renovations."

By this, we mean that we did not do it ourselves, but someone else did it for us.

In this article I will tell you when and how to use this design correctly.

From the article you will learn:

Using the have something done construction in English

The construction have something done is passive. By using it, you show that you are not doing the action yourself, but that someone is doing something for you. Let's look at 2 situations.

Situation 1:

You took your own nail polish and painted them. You say: “I got my nails done.” You mean you made it yourself.

Situation 2:

You went to the salon where you had your nails painted. In this case, you say: “I got my nails done.” But you don't mean that you did it yourself, you just used the services of a professional.

As you can see, in the first situation we say that we did the manicure ourselves.

The 2nd one someone else made it for us. In such a situation, we use the have something done construction, showing that someone else did something for you.

Using this design, we focus on the result (new manicure), and not on who did it.

Attention: Confused about English rules? Find out how to easily understand English grammar.

This construction can be used in all tenses; we will analyze it using the example of the most commonly used simple tenses: Present, Past and Future Simple.

The have something done construction in the Present Simple

When we use this phrase in the Present Simple, we mean that someone regularly does something for us.

When using the phrase have something done, we:

1. We put the actor in first place - the one for whom the action was performed (I, he, she, they, etc.)

2. We put the verb have in second place (if he, she, then has is in 1st place)

• If the verb is correct, then we add the ending -ed (clean - cleaned).
• If not regular verb, then we use the 3rd form of the verb (cut - cut).

So, the scheme of such a proposal will be as follows:

Actor + have/has + subject + action (regular verb ending -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

I
You
We	have
They		a phone	repaired
She
He	has
It

They have their car washed every week.
They wash their car every week (not themselves, but take it to a car wash).

He has his hair cut every month.
He cuts his hair every month (by himself, and goes to the hairdresser).

The have something done construction in the Past Simple

Using this construction in the past simple, we say that we used someone’s service in the past. When we use this phrase in the past tense, we change have/has to had. The rest of the scheme remains unchanged:

Actor + had + subject + action (regular verb ending -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

I
You
We
They	had	a phone	repaired
She
He
It

She had the walls painted.
She painted the walls (not herself, but hired workers).

We had the windows cleaned.
They washed the windows (not themselves, but hired workers).

The have something done construction in the Future Simple

Using this construction in the Future Simple, you are saying that you are going to do something using the services of professionals. To do this, you need to put will in front of have.

The scheme for forming such a sentence will be:

Actor + will + have + subject + action (regular verb ending -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

I
You
We
They	will	have	a phone	repaired
She
He
It

I will have my nails done.
I'll get a manicure (not myself, but in a beauty salon).

He will have his watch repaired.
He will repair his watch (on his own, but took it to a master).

Negative sentences with the construction have something done

To say that you do not/did/will do something you need to use an auxiliary verb with a negative particle not. For each tense we use a different auxiliary verb.

Present tense -PresentSimple

We use the auxiliary verb do (for he, she, it - does) with the negative particle not.

Abbreviations:

do + not = don’t
does + not = doesn’t

We put don’t/doesn’t before our design. The outline of such a proposal:

Actor + don’t/doesn’t + have + subject + action (regular verb ending in -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

I
You
We	don"t
They		have	a phone	repaired
She
He	doesn't
It

They don"t have their car washed every week.
They don't wash their car every week.

She doesn't have her hair cut.
She doesn't cut her hair.

Past tense -PastSimple

We use the auxiliary verb did with the negative particle not.

Reduction: did + not = didn't

We put didn"t in front of our construction. At the same time, we no longer put have in the past tense.

Offer outline:

Actor + didn’t + have + subject + action (regular verb ending -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

I
You
We
They	didn't	have	a phone	repaired
She
He
It

He didn't have his car painted.
He didn't paint his car.

They didn't have their roof repaired.
They didn't fix their roof.

Future tense - Future Simple

To our auxiliary verb will we add the negative particle not.

Reduction: will + not = won't

We put won"t in front of our construction. The scheme of such a sentence will be:

Actor + won’t + have + subject + action (regular verb ending -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

I
You
We
They	won't	have	a phone	repaired
She
He
It

They won't have the refrigerator repaired.
They won't fix the refrigerator.

She won't have her hair colored.
She won't dye her hair.

Interrogative sentences with the construction have something done in English

To ask a question, we put the auxiliary verb first in the sentence. Let's look at this for our three tenses.

Present tense -PresentSimple

We put the auxiliary verb do/does first. Offer outline:

Do/does + actor + have + subject + action (regular verb ending -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

	I
	you
Do	we
	they	have	a phone	repaired
	she
Does	he
	it

Do do they have their house tided?
Do they clean their house?

Does she have her hair cut?
Does she cut her hair?

Past tense -PastSimple

We put the auxiliary verb did first. Offer outline:

Did + actor + have + subject + action (regular verb ending in -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

	I
	you
	we
Did	they	have	a phone	repaired
	she
	he
	it

Did do you have this dress made?
Did you make this dress?

Did she have her carpet cleaned?
Did she clean her carpet?

Future tense - FutureSimple

We put the auxiliary verb will first. Offer outline:

Will + actor + have + subject + action (regular verb ending in -ed, irregular verb in 3rd form)

	I
	you
	we
Will	they	have	a phone	repaired
	she
	he
	it

Will do you have your hair colored?
Will you dye your hair?

Will he have his phone repaired?
Will he fix his phone?

So, today you got acquainted with another construction of the English language. Now let's put the theory into practice.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English:

1. I painted the walls.
2. She gets her nails done every week.
3. Have you cut your hair?
4. She fixed the sockets.
5. He won't wash the car.
6. Did she fix the car?

Causative form in English is represented by the following constructions

• have something done (literally – to have something done for oneself)
• have someone do something (make someone do something for you)

HAVE SMTH DONE

We use the expression have + object + past participle (have something done) to describe a service that was provided to us, or some unpleasant event that happened to us in cases where the action is not performed by us, but it is directed at us or at our property.

For example:

I had my car stolen - My car was stolen.

We had the roof repaired last year. “We had our roof fixed last year.”

Not has had his application turned down - His application was rejected.

My girlfriend has her letter published in the Times - My girlfriend’s letter was published in the Times.

The subject of such a sentence will be the person at whom the action is directed, or the person at whose property the action is directed. This construction is used quite often in English.

Please note in oral speech the expression is often used with get instead of have without change in meaning.

We have our fence pulled down = We get our fence pulled down.

How to use the expression have something done?

The Causative form have something done can be used in any tense. In this case, only the verb to have changes. Let's look at the example of the sentence We have the office cleaned (Our office was cleaned)

	We have the office cleaned
	We had the office cleaned
	We will have the office cleaned
Present Continuous	We are having the office cleaned
	We were having the office cleaned
Future Continuous	We will be having the office cleaned
	We have had the office cleaned
	We had the office cleaned
	We will have the office cleaned
Present Perfect Continuous	We have been having the office cleaned
Past Perfect Continuous	We had been having the office cleaned
Future Perfect Continuous	We will have been having the office cleaned

Of course, all Perfect Continuous forms and the Future Perfect form are practically not used in oral speech, as they are too overloaded.

HAVE SMB DO SMTH

The second possible form of Causative is have someone do something. This expression is more typical. It means that you forced/asked someone to do something for you.

For example:

I will have the waiter bring you the menu. – I’ll ask the waiter to bring you a menu.

I had my assistant type the report. – I asked the assistant to print the report.

In Britain we often say get instead of have, as in the expression have / get something done. However, when using get, the expression will be like get someone to do something (the to particle appears).

I will get the waiter to bring you the menu.

I got my assistant to type the report.

Thus, causative in English is represented by the following constructions:

• Have someone do something

• Get someone to do something.

Exercises on Causative form with answers.

Let's practice a little.

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences using the correct form of “to have something done”

1. The Smiths ___________ the roof _______________ last year. (repair)
2. Molly ______________ the room ____________________ next month. (decorate)
3. You should ___________ your eyes ___________ regularly. (test)
4. We ___________ the television _________________ only last year! (repair)
5. ________ you ____________ your car ______________ regularly? (service)
6. How often ___________ you _____________ your windows _____________? (clean)
7. We _________________ the office _________________ every evening. (clean)
8. Our neighbors __________________ a new garage ______________ at the moment (build)

Exercise 2. Write down the sentences using the correct causative form. Use a modal verb where appropriate.

1. Bob must/really/the heating/fix. Winter is coming soon.
2. She / her hair / dye blonde yesterday.
3. They / the rooms / paint at the moment.
4. After Alex / the sleeves / shorten, the blazer fits him perfectly.
5. Instead of buying a new car, why / you / not / your old one / fix / ?
6. What are those workmen doing in your garden? – Oh, we / a garage / build
7. They / not / their TV / fix / yet
8. Her coffee maker was broken. Now it's working again. She/it/repair

Exercise 3. Rewrite the sentences using HAVE SOMETHING DONE

1. Someone cut Kate's hair at 13.30 pm.

Kate……………………………………………………

1. The mechanic is changing Peter’s car battery.

Peter ………………………………………………………………...

My mother………………………………………...

1. Someone checks Henry’s guitar after every show.

Henry……………………………………………………

I………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 3. Rewrite the sentences using HAVE SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING

1. The mechanic changes Peter’s car battery yearly.

Peter ………………………………………………………………...

1. The hairdresser dyed my mother’s hair last Saturday.

My mother………………………………………...

1. The assistant checks Henry’s guitar after every show.

Henry……………………………………………………

1. The dentist checks my teeth once a year.

I………………………………………………………………………………………

Answers:

1. The Smiths had the roof repaired last year.
2. Molly is going to have/is having the room decorated next month.
3. You should have your eyes tested regularly.
4. We had the television repaired only last year!
5. Do you have your car serviced regularly?
6. How often do you have your windows cleaned?
7. We have the office cleaned every evening.
8. Our neighbors are having a new garage built at the moment.

1. Bob really must have the heating fixed.
2. She had her hair dyed blonde yesterday
3. They are having the rooms painted at the moment
4. After Alex had the sleeves shortened, the blazer fit him perfectly.
5. Instead of buying a new car, why don’t you have your old one fixed?
6. We are having a garage built.
7. They have not had their TV fixed yet.

1. Kate had her hair cut at 13.30 pm.
2. Peter is having his car battery changed.
3. My mother had her hair dyed last Saturday.
4. Henry has his guitar checked after every show.
5. I have my teeth checked once a year.

1. Peter has the mechanic change his car battery yearly.
2. My mother had the hairdresser dye her hair last Saturday.
3. Henry has his assistant check his guitar after every show.
4. I have the dentist check my teeth once a year.

I hope the rules and exercises helped you understand the topic of causative forms.

In Russian it is so common to hear phrases like: I'll go get my hair cut or I had my teeth treated, I had my eyes checked and so on. And, of course, we understand that the speaker does not perform these actions independently, but attracts specialists: a hairdresser, a dentist, a doctor. It would never even occur to us that someone could cut their own hair or treat their own teeth, although the grammatical sentences imply exactly this, since they are formulated in the active voice.

In English everything is different. If you want to tell someone that you have cut your hair, use , not active. For actions that are not performed by you, but by someone hired by you, the have something done construction is used. In English grammar this construction is called "The Causative".

For example, you want to say that you cut your hair (get a haircut) every month. If you cut your own hair, you can state:

I cut my hair every month. - I get my hair cut (cut my own hair) every month.

If you go to the hairdresser, the have something done construction is used. In English it will sound like this:

I have my hair cut every month. - I get my hair cut every month.

If you translate the construction “word for word”, you get: "I have my hair cut every month". That is, I don’t cut them myself, but “have them cut”, someone else does it.

Now that you more or less understand the essence of the design, let's look at some more examples:

I check my eyes once a year. - I check it myself, I have the equipment, I know how to do it.
I have my eyes checked once a year. - I go to an ophthalmologist who will check my vision.
He repairs his car at this car service station. - He repairs the car with his own hands.
He has his car repaired at this car service station. - His car is being repaired by auto mechanics.

The two examples above are given in Present Simple tense: these are habitual, repeated actions. Remember that the verb have changes to has for the third person.

The Causative is usually used with verbs such as build, clean, decorate, deliver, mend, copy, print, repair, service, test, cut, check and others that imply that the action is performed by someone other than the speaker himself.

The Causative (have something done) consists of three parts. All parts of this design are changeable. Instead of done, you substitute any verb in the third form, something is an object, an object on which the action is performed. And have serves to change time.
Some textbooks give the following formula: have + object + Past Participle.

Let's look at the table of tenses in which this construction can be used and compare sentences in the active voice and in The Causative:

I wash the car every month.	I have the car washed every month.
I wash my car every month.	My car is washed every month.
I am washing the car at the moment.	I am having my car washed at the moment.
I'm washing my car at the moment.	My car is being washed at the moment.
I have already washed the car.	I have already had my car washed.
I've already washed the car.	My car has already been washed.
I washed the car yesterday.	I had my car washed yesterday.
I washed my car yesterday.	My car was washed yesterday.
I was washed the car when you called me.	I was having my car washed when you called me.
I was washing the car when you called.	My car was being washed when you called.
I remembered that I had washed the car.	I remembered that I had had my car washed.
I remembered that I washed the car.	I remembered that my car had been washed.
I have been washed the car for an hour.	I have been having my car washed for an hour.
I've been washing my car for an hour now.	My car has been washed for an hour now.
I will wash the car tomorrow.	I will have my car washed tomorrow.
I'll wash the car tomorrow.	My car will be washed tomorrow.
I will be washing the car when you will call.	I will be having my car washed when you will call.
I'll be washing the car when you call.	My car will be washed when you call.
There is no point in washing the car.	There is no point in having the car washed.
There's no point in washing the car.	There is no point in having your car washed.
With modal verbs
I can wash the car.	I can have my car washed.
I can wash the car.	My car can be washed.

If you need to ask a question or construct a negative, use auxiliary verbs:

Did you have your hair cut? - You had a haircut?
Will she have her walls painted? - Will they paint the walls for her?
Are you having your pool cleaned? - Is your pool being cleaned now?

In an informal conversation, it is acceptable to replace have with get :

I got my watch repaired. - My watch was repaired.
We got our essays checked. - Our essays were checked.

Get is better used in imperative sentences, since get is a “stronger” verb than have:

Get your pressure measured. - Why don't you take your blood pressure.
Why don't you get your car fixed. - Why don't you get your car fixed.

The construction have something done can also be used to denote an unpleasant action that happened to someone:

He had his car stolen. - His car was stolen.
They had their window broken. - Their window was broken.
She had her dress ruined. - Her dress was ruined.

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Don't limit yourself to Passive Voice for Education passive voice. It may well help you out. A sentence with such a phrase will sound more interesting and take on the shade you need. The ease of constructing a phrase and the ability to use it with all tenses (and even with modal verbs) is another tangible advantage of mastering this topic.

Why do we need the have something done construct?

There are only two rules when it comes in handy construction have something done. Most often, this grammatical phenomenon can be found if a person uses some kind of service. This also includes medical care. For example, you went to your favorite hairdresser and got your hair in order. Or they removed a boring tooth. In English, both situations will be expressed using have something done. Literally it sounds like this: “I have something done.” The English here focus the interlocutor’s attention on the fact that someone, not the speaker, has worked to solve the problem.

Example:

I had my hair cut three days ago. – I got my hair cut 3 days ago.

Usually used in Russian active voice. Agree, it would be somehow inhumane for us to say “I had my hair cut.” But for English speakers this is normal and you can get used to this type of sentence over time.

The second case of using the construction have something done is associated with unpleasant events. So, if someone was robbed, then this particular design will be needed.

Example:

Have you had all your money stolen? - Was all your money stolen?

As you may have guessed, the construction is very simple to use, just like the verb have itself. It is important not to forget about the main verb - it must be in the 3rd form (see the table of irregular verbs). In denials and questions appear auxiliary words. Their choice depends on the time in which the sentence itself sounds.

The construction have something done in different tenses

	statement	negation	question
simple present	Bob has his flat repaired twice a year. Bob's apartment is renovated twice a year.	Bob doesn't have his flat repaired twice a year. Bob's apartment doesn't get renovated twice a year.	Does Bob have his flat repaired twice a year? Does Bob redecorate his apartment twice a year?
present continuous	Bob is having his flat repaired now. Bob's apartment is currently being renovated.	Bean isn't having his flat repaired now. Bob's apartment is not being renovated right now.	Is Bob having his flat repaired now? Is Bob currently renovating his apartment?
simple future	Bob will have his flat repaired. Bob's apartment will be renovated.	Bob won't have his flat repaired. Bob's apartment won't be renovated.	Will Bob have his flat repaired ? Will Tom's apartment be renovated?
simple past	Yesterday Bob had his flat repaired . Bob's apartment was renovated yesterday.	Yesterday Bob didn't have his flat repaired. Bob's apartment was not being renovated yesterday.	Did Bob have his flat repaired yesterday? Was Bob's apartment renovated yesterday?
past continuous	Bob was having his flat repaired all day. Bob's apartment was being renovated all day.	Bob wasn't having his flat repaired all day. Bob's apartment had not been repaired all day.	Was Bob having his flat repaired all day? Bob's apartment was being renovated all day?
present perfect	Bob has already had his flat repaired. Bob's apartment has already been renovated.	Bob hasn’t had his flat repaired yet. Bob's apartment hasn't been renovated yet.	Has Bob already had his flat repaired ? Has Bob's apartment been renovated yet?
past perfect	Bob had his flat repaired before we came. Bob's apartment had been renovated before we arrived.	Bob hadn't had his flat repaired before we came. Bob's apartment had not been renovated before we arrived.	Had Bob had his flat repaired before we came? Was Bob's apartment renovated before we arrived?
present perfect continuous	Bob has been having his flat repaired since early morning. Bob's apartment had been being renovated since early morning.	Bob hasn’t been having his flat repaired since early morning. Bob's apartment had not been repaired since early morning.	Has Bob been having his flat repaired since early morning? Has Bob's apartment been renovated since early morning?
past perfect continuous	Bob had been having his flat repaired for 2 hours when we came. Bob's apartment was being renovated for 2 hours when we arrived.	Bob hadn't been having his flat repaired for 2 hours when we came. Bob's apartment had not been repaired for 2 hours when we arrived.	Had Bob been having his flat repaired for 2 hours when we came? Bob's apartment had been under renovation for 2 hours when we arrived?
construction to be going to	Bob is going to have his flat repaired. Bob is going to renovate his apartment (with the help of a third party).	Bob isn't going to have his flat repaired. Bob is not going to renovate his apartment.	Is Bob going to have his flat repaired? Is Bob going to renovate his apartment?
modal verbs	Bob should have his flat repaired. Bob should renovate his apartment.	Bob shouldn't have his flat repaired. Bob shouldn't renovate his apartment.	Should Bob have his flat repaired? Bob needs to renovate his apartment?

Of course, everything takes practice. If you are ready to work on this topic with a teacher, sign up for our Skype classes! We offer an introductory lesson for free.

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