Get / Have something done.
Have / Get something done : When we use ‘ Have something done ‘ we mean that we arrange for somebody else to do something for us.(1)
- Prof.George can repair his car.(repair himself)
- (OR) He can have the car repaired.(i.e he can arrange for somebody to repair)
- Prof.George repaired his car.( i.e he repaired himself – past)
- Prof.George had his car repaired.(i.e he arranged for somebody to repair it – past)
- A: Are you going to clean the room or will you have it cleaned?
- B: No, I am so tired. I will have it cleaned by the servant.
- The newly-weds are having their photographs taken.(i.e The photographer is taking the photos)
- Did she make her churidar or did she have it stitched outside?
- She had her churidar stitched at City Tailors.
- Where did you have your hair cut?
- I had my hair cut at Royal Saloon.
(2) We can say ‘Get something done ‘ instead of ‘ Have something done ‘( mainly in informal spoken English)
- She got her churidar stitched .(i.e she had her churidar stitched)
- He got his hair cut.
- She got her dresses washed.
- He got his car repaired.
(3) Sometimes ‘ Have something done ‘ has a different meaning. It refers to something happening to somebody or their belongings. Usually what happens is not pleasant.
- He had his two sons wounded in the Iran- Iraq war.
- He had his left hand broken in the accident.
- When they got home after the film they found that they had all their money stolen.
- You look very perplexed, what happened to you? Have you had your purse stolen?