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Introduction

Sometimes we need people to do things for us. Maybe we pay them to do it, maybe we just ask for a favour. Listen to Beth and Neil talking about mechanics, hairdressers, doctors and opticians and grammar guru Georgie explaining the causative.

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Grammar explanation

Causative: have/get + object + past participle

When you ask, or pay someone to do something for you, we can use the causative: have/get + object + past participle. It focuses on the process rather than the person who does the action.

I got my hair cut yesterday.
I havemy heating checked every year.
This suit doesn't fit any more. I'll haveitaltered.

Get + object + infinitive with to

We can use get + object + infinitive to talk about causing or persuading someone to do something. The object here is the person who does the action

I got Georgie to check my grammar.
You need to get someone to check your car.
I got them to give me a refund.

To do

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Learn more about the causative here here: BBC English Class: The causative

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