Question 1

How do "make," "have," and "get" compare when causing someone to act?

Accepted Answer

These three verbs form a scale of force. "Make someone do" (bare infinitive) expresses compulsion — the person has no choice: "The teacher made the students rewrite the essay." "Have someone do" (bare infinitive) expresses authority — the speaker instructs and the action is carried out: "I had my assistant send the email." "Get someone to do" (to-infinitive) expresses persuasion — the speaker convinces or encourages: "I got my colleague to cover my shift." Notice the grammar: "make" and "have" take the bare infinitive (direct action), while "get" takes the to-infinitive (effort or negotiation involved). Understanding this three-level scale — force, authority, persuasion — helps you choose precisely in Cambridge C1 Advanced writing and speaking tasks.

Question 2

Is "get someone to do" less formal than "have someone do"?

Accepted Answer

Yes — "get someone to do" is generally less formal. "Have someone do" is common in professional, legal, and business English: "The judge had the witness repeat her statement." "Get someone to do" is common in everyday conversation and implies effort: "I finally got my flatmate to take out the rubbish." However, formality is not the only difference — meaning matters too. Even in informal contexts, "have" can imply clear authority: "My mum had me tidy my room" (she gave a direct instruction). "Get" always adds a sense of persuasion or negotiation. In Cambridge C1 exams, choosing correctly between these two structures shows awareness of both register and meaning.

Question 3

How do native speakers choose between "have" and "get" with people?

Accepted Answer

Native speakers choose based on two factors: authority and effort. If the speaker has clear authority (a boss, teacher, doctor, or parent giving instructions), they naturally use "have": "I'll have my secretary arrange the meeting." If the speaker needed to persuade, negotiate, or put in effort, they use "get": "I got my brother to drive me to the airport." In casual speech, "get someone to do" is far more common because most everyday interactions involve requesting rather than commanding. Many native speakers also use "get" as a default, even with authority: "I got my assistant to book the flights." Only formal or written English consistently preserves the "have" form for authority.

Have vs Get Comparison — Advanced Exercises

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