Step 73: Have It Done
Services and processes — The passive in all tenses; causative have
📖 Read — Saturday of Services
Saturday is service day for the Millers. Dad is having the car repaired at the garage — a mechanic is fixing the brakes. Mom had her hair cut this morning; she says it feels wonderful. The house is being painted this week, and the new windows will be installed on Monday.
Ethan looks at the list and laughs: “We have everything done by other people!” Dad smiles. “That's the modern world, son. The car is repaired by experts, photos are printed at the shop, and even our groceries are delivered. But some things we still do ourselves — like cooking Sunday lunch. Nobody has that done for us!”
🧩 Grammar — Passive in All Tenses + Causative Have
The passive works in every tense — just change be: The car is repaired every year. It was repaired yesterday. It is being repaired right now. It will be repaired tomorrow. It has been repaired. And when YOU arrange for someone else to do a job, use the causative: have + thing + past participle — I had my hair cut. She's having her house painted. We had the car fixed. (Compare: 'I cut my hair' = I did it myself!)
- The windows are being cleaned today.
- The letter has already been sent.
- I had my phone repaired last week.
- She has her teeth checked every six months.
🏗️ Key structures
- I had my ___ ___ (done by someone) — I had my car washed.
- She is having her ___ ___ — She is having her kitchen painted.
- ___ is being ___ / has been ___ — The road is being repaired. / The form has been signed.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
They fixed my bike — it's good as new!
🔤 New words
a person whose job is fixing cars and machines
The mechanic repaired the brakes.
the act or style of cutting hair
She loves her new haircut.
a person who fixes water pipes, sinks, and bathrooms
Call a plumber — the sink is leaking!
a person who works with electricity and wires
The electrician fixed the lights.
fix something that is broken
They repaired the roof after the storm.
work done for customers by a company or person
The hotel offers room service.
a planned meeting at a set time (doctor, hairdresser…)
I have a dentist appointment at three.
a building where you keep your car; also a shop that repairs cars
The car is at the garage.
🎧 Say it with me
I had my hair cut this morning, and we’re having the house painted this week. The car is being repaired right now!
🎤 Your turn to speak
Talk about services: three things you have done by others (hair, car, phone, photos) — one in the past, one in the present continuous, one regular habit.
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write 4 sentences about service day in your home: two causatives with have, one 'is being' passive, and one 'has been' passive.
See a model answer
On Saturday, I had my bike repaired at the shop — now it's good as new. My sister is having her dress made for the wedding. Meanwhile, our windows are being cleaned by a local company. By noon, the whole house has been transformed!
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
Go deeper
This step is a doorway — the full lesson goes much further:
Passive Advanced & The Causative (have/get something done) — full lesson + 50-question quiz
🎉 Saved in your progress!