get/have something done

Take a look at these two sentences. What is the difference in meaning between them?

'I cut my hair.'

'I have my hair cut.'

• 'I cut my hair' means that I do it myself.

• 'I have my hair cut means someone cuts my hair for me (in this case it's probably a hairdresser).

• We use have something done to mean another person does a service for us.

• The grammar for this is pretty simple:

Get/Have + object + past participle

• Let's take a look at a few more examples:

'We didn't want to cook so we had a pizza delivered.'
'I had my car washed at that new place by the station.'
'I had my watch fixed.'

1)  Rewrite the sentences using 'have/get something done'.
Example: I'm going to get the shoemaker to mend my shoes.
               I'm going to have/get my shoes mended.
1 They are going to get an architect to design their new house.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 She wanted to get a dressmaker to alter her dress.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 We were thinking of getting the gardener to cut the grass.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4 You really must get someone to test your eyes.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5 I'd really like to get someone to repaint my car, but I can't afford it.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2)    Rewrite the sentences using the correct form of 'have something done'. Omit the words underlined.
Example: She went to a chiropodist and he treated her feet.
                 She had her feet treated.
1 I pay a window cleaner to clean my windows every month.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 The shoe-mender is repairing my shoes for me.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 I can't buy clothes to fit me so I employ a tailor to make them for me.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4 I paid a watchmaker to clean my watch.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5 I asked the fishmonger to open the oysters for me.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6 Jill employed builders to put a new roof on the house.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………