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Patterns with have and get

The active: have / get + object + infinitive


This pattern means ‘cause someone to do something'. Have takes a bare infinitive and get a to-
infinitive.

e.g. I had the garage service my car.


I got the garage to service my car.

This active pattern with have is more common in the USA than in Britain, where it is rather
formal. Get is informal.

The passive: have/get + object + past participle


This pattern means ‘cause something to be done'.

e.g. I had / got my car serviced. This means that I arranged for someone, for example a
garage, to service my car; I did not service it myself. We use this pattern mainly to talk about
professional services to a customer. There is often payment involved.

Have meaning ‘experience’


We can use the same pattern with have meaning 'experience something', often something
unpleasant. The subject is the person to whom something happens.(the victim of the event)
e.g. We had a window broken in the storm.
My sister has had some money stolen.
The car had its windows smashed. (the subject does not have to be a person)

Have + object + -ing


This use of have means ‘I won't allow you to do this’

e.g. I won’t have the children playing in my garden. (= tolerate)


I won’t have you telling me what to do.

Have + object + -ing


1- It is used to predict what might happen (and it is often unpleasant). The use is colloquial.
e.g. If you don’t tell him about it, you will have him complaining.
obj.

2- It is also used when we have been instrumental in helping / persuading / teaching someone
to do sth., when you succeed in getting someone else to do sth.

e.g. After three hours I had them working on that project.


He had us laughing all through the meal

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