Question 1

How do I make negative sentences with "have something done"?

Accepted Answer

Use the same negative patterns as other English tenses. In the present simple, add "doesn't" or "don't": "He doesn't have his car serviced regularly." In the past simple, use "didn't": "We didn't have the roof repaired in time." In the present perfect, use "haven't" or "hasn't": "She hasn't had her teeth checked this year." With modals, add "not" after the modal: "You shouldn't have your hair dyed so often." The object and past participle stay in the same position — only the negative word is added before "have" or "get." Practise forming negatives in each tense to build accuracy for B2 level exams.

Question 2

How do I form questions using "have something done"?

Accepted Answer

For present and past simple questions, use "do/does/did" at the start: "Do you have your car serviced regularly?" "Did she get her dress altered?" For present perfect questions, move "have/has" before the subject: "Have you had your eyes tested recently?" "Has he got his laptop fixed?" For continuous tenses, move "is/are/was/were" to the front: "Is she having her photo taken?" Short answers follow the usual pattern: "Yes, I have" or "No, she didn't." In Cambridge B2 First, you are often asked to rewrite statements as questions using this structure.

Question 3

Can I use "have something done" with modal verbs?

Accepted Answer

Yes — modal verbs combine naturally with this structure. Use the pattern: modal + have + object + past participle. "You should have your eyes tested" (advice). "I must have my passport renewed before the trip" (necessity). "She might have her hair done before the party" (possibility). The negative adds "not" after the modal: "You shouldn't have your hair bleached at home." For past modals, add "have had": "I should have had my brakes checked earlier" (regret about a missed service). This combination of modals with the "have something done" structure is commonly tested in Cambridge B2 First and IELTS grammar tasks.

Intermediate Causative Transformation Exercises

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Transformation Advanced

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Present Perfect