Using "have" and "get" to talk about

delegating tasks to others or services that others do

for us..

..and then a little bit about how to properly use the verbs "make",

"let" and "help*"

Using "have" and "get" to talk about delegating tasks to

others or services that others do for us.

I had my house painted.

I get my nails done every month.

I had the neighbor's kid cut the grass.

How do you always get someone to help you?

Bob had his dog go get a beer for him.

These are ways we talk about arranging for someone else to do something for us.

(active)My wife had someone else do that crap.

(passive)My wife had that crap done.

(active)My wife had someone else do that crap.

(passive)My wife had that crap done.

So what's the difference between "have" and "get"?

One is structure (in active sentences):

I had someone paint my house.

I got someone to paint my house

So what's the difference between "have" and "get"?

One is structure (in active sentences):

I had someone paint my house.

I got someone to paint my house.

I had someone paint my house.

I got someone to paint my house.

Both of the above sentences mean the same thing: that I arranged for someone to do

something for me.

Using "get", however, could have an extra meaning: that I convinced, persuaded, pushed or

forced someone to do something they wouldn't normally have done.

How did you get your daughter to stop coloring on the walls?

I told her I would rip the legs out of her favorite Barbie if she did it again.

In passive sentences, the structure using "have" or "get" is the same.

I had my house painted.

I got my house painted.

The meanings normally are the same also. "Get", however, could have a more specific

meaning, communicating that it's something that you finally achieved.

It could say that A) you finally achieved arranging

for someone else to do it, or even that B) you

finally achieved doing it yourself.

"Have" never communicates that you did it yourself.

Read the following pieces below. Decide which reflect A) I did it myself B) someone else did it,

or C) it's not clear who did it.

I got my car washed over the weekend. I couldn't believe how much I was charged for it.

I had three kegs of beer brought to my house. My brother in law is coming this weekend and I don't want him opening the fridge every three minutes

to get another bottle.

I finally got my toenails clipped.

I quickly got my clothes put on and went downstairs to see who was knocking on my door.

Okay then, so what about "make", "let" and "help*"? What's so special about them?

Look at the below sentences and you will see a very typical pattern we use in English when

person (A) is involved with the activities of person (B):

Bruna told Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna wants Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna will advise Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna persuaded Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna convinced Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna asked Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna taught Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna got Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna told Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna wanted Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna advised Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna persuaded Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna convinced Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna asked Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna taught Bob to jump off the cliff.

Bruna got Bob to jump off the cliff.

It's a very common pattern...