Lesson 90: Unit 143 - Have Something Done

About this lesson

In this lesson you will learn the passive structure 'have something done', which is used when someone else does something for us. You will look at how this structure is formed in different tenses – present simple, past simple, future – and with modal verbs. You will read teenagers' opinions about piercings, tattoos and hair dyeing – real examples of the structure in use. You will also learn how 'get' can replace 'have' in this structure.

40 minutes

What you'll learn

• Understand and use the structure 'have something done' for actions carried out by someone else
• Form the structure correctly in different tenses (present, past, future)
• Use 'get' instead of 'have' in this structure
• Add the doer of the action with 'by' (by analogy with the passive voice)
• Recognise and build sentences with modal verbs + 'have something done'
• Apply the structure in real context – services, repairs, personal care

Lesson vocabulary

• have something done I am going to have my hair cut.
• get something done I get my car serviced every two months.
• serviced Uncle Ben has had his car serviced.
• redecorated We had the house redecorated over the summer.
• pierced I've never had my ears pierced before.
• dyed I had my hair dyed fiery red.
• tattooed I want to have my ankle tattooed with a dragon.
• removed I'm going to have it removed.
• faxed They will have the contract faxed through to you.
• designed I'm having my offices designed by a famous architect.
• tested I'm going to have my eyes tested tomorrow.
• rebuilt We must have our old cottage rebuilt.
• trimmed If you can't trim your beard, you should have it trimmed.
• allergic reaction I'm scared that I'll get some sort of allergic reaction to the metal.
• lobes Girls should only have their lobes pierced.

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In other languages: Български