The use of the causative for things

The causative is similar to the passive. We focus on what is done to

something or someone, not on what someone does:

active: I'm servicing my car Jack is servicing my car

(i.e. I'm doing the job myself; or I know who is doing it) passive: My car is being serviced

(i.e. someone is doing the job for me) causative: I'm having my car serviced

(i.e. I'm responsible for causing someone to do the job) When we use the passive or the causative, we may not know or may not need to name who performs a service for us. However, in contrast to the passive, we use the causative to stress the fact that we are 'causing' someone else to perform a service for us. We therefore often use it with such verbs as build clean, decorate, deliver, develop (a film), mend, photocopy, press print, repair, and service. We do not normally use the active (/ am servicing my car) to mean that someone else is doing something for us. Nor can we say/ want to cut my hair when we mean / want to have my hair cut. Note that by + agent is added only when it is necessary to mention who or what did the action: We're having/getting the job done by some local builders They are much cheaper and more reliable than anyone else

12.12.2 The use of the causative for people
The causative with verbs like coach, instruct prepare, teach and train
can refer to things we cause to be done to other people:
active: I'm teaching her English

(i.e. I'm teaching her myself) passive: She's being taught English

(i.e. I may not know or wish to name the teacher) causative: I'm having her taught English

(i.e. I'm responsible for causing someone to do the job) Compare the construction 'have someone do something' [> 16.10.1].

12 The passive and the causative

12.12.3 Other related uses of 'have' + object + past participle

In the sense of 'experience

You should understand by now You've had it explained often

enough' (= it has been explained to you)

When he got up to speak the minister had eggs thrown at him

In the sense of allow [compare > 10.38]

/ refuse to have my house used as a hotel To describe the present result of past action

We now have the problem solved