The causative shows that we arrange for someone else to do something for us. The main pattern is have or get + object + past participle: I had my hair cut. We're getting the kitchen painted. The same pattern can describe something unpleasant that happened to us: She had her phone stolen. Get is slightly more informal than have.

It is usually taught at B2, together with the active patterns have someone do something (I had the mechanic check the brakes) and get someone to do something (I got my brother to help me). Learners say I cut my hair when a hairdresser did it, confuse the word order with the past perfect (I had cut my hair), and add to after have (*I had him to fix it).

This page offers printable causative worksheets with answer keys, which print as PDFs or can be solved online through a class link.

Teaching tips: Causative have / get

Use services such as the hairdresser, mechanic and dry cleaner as a context and ask: Did you do it yourself, or did someone do it for you?
Color-code the word order (have + object + past participle) and contrast I had my car repaired with I had repaired my car.
Have learners plan a house move as a to-do list of things they will have or get done.
Watch for to after have: we say have someone do something but get someone to do something.

Questions teachers ask

What's the difference between have something done and get something done?

In most contexts they mean the same; get is more informal and can suggest more effort in arranging the service.

Can the causative describe bad experiences?

Yes. Have + object + past participle can describe something done to us against our wishes: He had his wallet stolen on vacation.

Why does 'I had repaired my car' mean something different?

That is the past perfect, meaning I did the repair myself before another past moment. The causative puts the object before the participle: I had my car repaired.