Have vs Get Comparison — Intermediate Exercises

At intermediate level, the choice between have and get becomes more important as you use the "have/get something done" structure in different tenses and contexts. In the present perfect, both work: "I have had my teeth checked" and "I have got my teeth checked" — though "have had" is more common in formal writing. In the present continuous, "She is having her dress altered" sounds slightly more formal than "She is getting her dress altered."

Some tense combinations are more natural with one form. "Get" is very common with the going to future: "I'm going to get my eyes tested" sounds more natural than "I'm going to have my eyes tested" in everyday speech. With modals, both work equally well: "You should have/get your brakes checked." A good rule is to use "have" in written English and professional contexts, and "get" in spoken English and informal writing. For Cambridge B2 First, both are accepted, but using them appropriately in different registers demonstrates higher language awareness.