To have somebody do something en inglés
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To have somebody do something
To have + somebody + do something (infinitivo sin el to) corresponde a la expresión 'hacer que alguien haga algo':
Bruno had Icarus check last year's figures. Bruno hizo que Icarus verificara las cifras del año pasado.
They would have Icarus do all the work himself, if they could. Si fuera por ellos, dejarían que Icarus hiciera todo el trabajo él sólo.
I have the gardener take care of everything. Hago que el jardinero se ocupe de todo.
Horatio had the test monkeys drive him around the city. Horatio hizo que los monos le llevasen por toda la ciudad.
'Hacer que alguien haga algo' también se puede expresar mediante la construcción: to have + something (objeto) + done (participio pasado) by somebody:
She had her tickets booked by the agency. Fue una agencia la que reservó sus billetes.
I had everything taken care of by the gardener. Es el jardinero el que se ocupa de todo.
El complemento de agente (by somebody) generalmente se sobrentiende:
Did you have your hair cut (by the barber)? ¿Te cortó el pelo (el peluquero)?
Ejercicio 1
Last year, Icarus's mother him her sheets every day before he went to the office.
Last year, Icarus's mother had 1 him change 2 her sheets every day before he went to the office.
1 had: This is the correct choice. We use the 'have somebody do something' construction to express one person 'instructing' or 'forcing' someone else to perform an action. In this case, Icarus's mother instructed or forced Icarus to change her bedpan. We can assume that Icarus was 'asked' or even 'forced' to perform this task for his mother. When we use the 'have somebody do something' construction, the first verb 'to have' is always conjugated in the appropriate form according to the context of the sentence. In this case we use the preterit form because this action took place in the past (last year).
1 have: Because of the phrase 'last year', we know that these actions took place in the past. Therefore we must conjugate the verb 'have' into the past tense (had) here. The present simple tense or infinitive form is incorrect because of the past tense time frame of this construction.
1 to have: We cannot use infinitive verb (to have) preceded by the subject of a clause (mother). We generally use the full infinitive form of a verb after another conjugated verb. For example: I want to have dinner with you this Friday.
1 has: Because we know that the action took place 'last year', we must conjugate the verb 'have' into the past tense (had) here. The present simple tense form doesn't work here.
2 change: This is the best choice here. When we use the construction 'to have someone do something', the second verb (change) is always put in the infinitive form, without being preceded by 'to'. In this construction, only the first verb 'had' is conjugated into the appropriate form.
2 to change: We do not use the full form of the infinitive (to change) in this construction such as this. We must drop the infinitive marker 'to' in order to correctly complete the construction.
2 changed: Because the first verb of this clause (had) already carries the past tense, we do not conjugate 'change'. We must leave the verb 'change' in the infinitive form.
2 changing: Because the first verb of this clause (had) already carries the past tense, we do not conjugate 'change'. We must leave the verb 'change' in the infinitive form.
Ejercicio 2
Bob: Hi, mother! I hope you liked your song this morning. I the attendants at the institution to sing you 'Happy Birthday'.
Mom: I hated it.
Bob: Well, I should probably get back to work. Let me know if you need anything.
Mom: I you me out of this place.
Bob: Bye!
Mom: I hated it.
Bob: Well, I should probably get back to work. Let me know if you need anything.
Mom: I you me out of this place.
Bob: Bye!
Bob: Hi, mother! I hope you liked your song this morning. I had 1 the attendants at the institution agree 2 to sing you 'Happy Birthday'.
Mom: I hated it.
Bob: Well, I should probably get back to work. Let me know if you need anything.
Mom: I need 3 you to get 4 me out of this place.
Bob: Bye!
Mom: I hated it.
Bob: Well, I should probably get back to work. Let me know if you need anything.
Mom: I need 3 you to get 4 me out of this place.
Bob: Bye!
1 had: This is the best choice here. Because the phrase requires a main verb (to have), and because the action it refers to takes place in the past, we use 'had' here.
1 have: Because Bob is speaking about 'this morning' we know the action takes place in the past, therefore we cannot use the present tense form 'have' here.
1 to have: We cannot use an infinitive verb (to have) directly preceded by the subject of a clause (I).
1 having: Because Bob is speaking about 'this morning' we know the action takes place in the past. We must conjugate the verb 'have' into the past tense form 'had' here.
2 agree: This is the best choice here. When we use the construction 'have someone do something', the second verb (agree) is always in the infinitive, without being preceded by the infinitive marker 'to'. For example: 'I had my wife phone the doctor' or 'I'll have my secretary email you with the details'.
2 to agree: We cannot use the full form of the infinitive (to agree) in a construction such as this. We must drop the infinitive marker 'to'.
2 agreeing: Because the first verb of this clause (had) already carries the past tense, we do not conjugate 'agree'. We must leave it in the infinitive form.
2 agreed: Because the first verb of this clause (had) already carries the past tense, we do not conjugate 'agree'. We must leave it in the infinitive form.
3 need: Bob's mother is giving an imperative statement in the present tense, therefore we must conjugate 'need' in the present tense form. Note: the present tense form of 'need' carries a sense of future!
3 needed: Because Mom is referring to a present state, we cannot conjugate 'need' into the past tense here.
3 to need: We cannot use an infinitive verb directly preceded by the subject of a clause. 'I to need' is grammatically incorrect.
3 needing: Because there is not another auxiliary preceding it, we cannot conjugate 'need' into the continuous form here.
4 to get: This is the best choice here. When using the auxiliary 'need', the verb which follows (to get) should be written in the infinitive form, with the infinitive marker 'to' preceding the infinitive verb. The construction 'need to do something' expresses an obligation to take an action. For example: 'You need to make an appointment with the doctor' or 'I need my boss to give me a pay rise'.
4 get: 'I need you get me' is grammatically incorrect. We cannot use the infinitive verb 'get' without the infinitive marker 'to' in this construction.
4 got: Because the first verb of this clause (to need) is in the present tense, we cannot conjugate the second verb (to get) into the past tense.
4 getting: Because the first verb of this clause (to need) is in the present tense, we cannot conjugate 'to get' into another tense. We must leave it in the full infinitive form.
Ejercicio 3
Kevin had Icarus his taxes during work hours, so Bruno Kevin to take a short, unpaid vacation.
Kevin had Icarus do 1 his taxes during work hours, so Bruno asked 2 Kevin to take a short, unpaid vacation.
1 do: 'Do' is the best choice here. 'To have somebody do something' expresses one person completing or performing a task for someone else.
1 to do: We cannot use the infinitive 'to do' here. It is grammatically incorrect.
1 make: One does not 'make' taxes. One 'does' them.
1 to make: One does not 'make' taxes. One 'does' them.
2 asked: Because of the infinitive 'to take', we use 'asked' here.
2 had: Because of the infinitive 'to take', we cannot use 'had' here.
2 made: Because of the infinitive 'to take', we cannot use 'made' here.
2 did: 'Did' does not make sense here.
Ejercicio 4
Fill in the blanks in the text below with either 'have', 'make' or 'do'. Remember to conjugate the verb in the correct tense.
Polly: I finally my car fixed this past weekend.
Susie: That's exciting. Did you your boyfriend it?
Polly: Are you kidding? He has trouble changing the channel on the TV. I wouldn't let him anywhere near my car.
Susie: This story me think of this one time that my own car broke down on the side of the road...
Polly: I finally my car fixed this past weekend.
Susie: That's exciting. Did you your boyfriend it?
Polly: Are you kidding? He has trouble changing the channel on the TV. I wouldn't let him anywhere near my car.
Susie: This story me think of this one time that my own car broke down on the side of the road...
Fill in the blanks in the text below with either 'have', 'make' or 'do'. Remember to conjugate the verb in the correct tense.
Polly: I finally had 1 my car fixed this past weekend.
Susie: That's exciting. Did you have 2 your boyfriend do 3 it?
Polly: Are you kidding? He has trouble changing the channel on the TV. I wouldn't let him anywhere near my car.
Susie: This story makes 4 me think of this one time that my own car broke down on the side of the road...
Polly: I finally had 1 my car fixed this past weekend.
Susie: That's exciting. Did you have 2 your boyfriend do 3 it?
Polly: Are you kidding? He has trouble changing the channel on the TV. I wouldn't let him anywhere near my car.
Susie: This story makes 4 me think of this one time that my own car broke down on the side of the road...
1 had: We often use the verb 'have' in passive constructions to say that 'something was done by someone' (Polly's car was fixed by a mechanic). This construction uses 'have' + object + past participle. Another example: 'We had our living room painted by a professional'.
2 have: This is an acceptable choice here. To 'have someone do something' is a common construction in English, expressing that one person has asked or demanded that another perform a service or action. Note: 'Did you MAKE your boyfriend do it?' is also an acceptable choice here. 'To make someone do something' has a more forceful tone than 'to have someone do something'.
3 do: Susie is referring to the act of 'repairing' or 'fixing' Polly's car. In this construction, we use the verb 'do' to replace the verb 'fix', which was introduced in the previous sentence, and use the infinitive form of the verb. 'Do' is often used to replace verbs or even entire clauses which appear earlier in a text or conversation. For example: 'Have you cleaned your room? No I haven't done it yet'.
4 makes: The construction 'to make someone do something' is often used with an impersonal subject (such as 'it' or 'that', referring to an idea or previous statement). Susie is saying that Polly's story 'causes' Susie to think of her own previous car troubles. Another way to express this same idea would be 'Your story reminds me of this one time...'.
Ejercicio 5
Sophie: Wow. That film was terribly violent.
Bob: I agree. It was a little bit too much. Especially when the king his own son by the pygmies.
Sophie: I didn't understand that part. Where did the pygmies come from?
Bob: Yeah. It me .
Bob: I agree. It was a little bit too much. Especially when the king his own son by the pygmies.
Sophie: I didn't understand that part. Where did the pygmies come from?
Bob: Yeah. It me .
Sophie: Wow. That film was terribly violent.
Bob: I agree. It was a little bit too much. Especially when the king had 1 his own son hunted 2 by the pygmies.
Sophie: I didn't understand that part. Where did the pygmies come from?
Bob: Yeah. It makes 3 me wonder 4.
Bob: I agree. It was a little bit too much. Especially when the king had 1 his own son hunted 2 by the pygmies.
Sophie: I didn't understand that part. Where did the pygmies come from?
Bob: Yeah. It makes 3 me wonder 4.
1 had: The expression 'to have something done by someone' (a passive, or indirect construction) is often used to express indirect actions involving two different subjects. 'Had' introduces the indirect action of the pygmies hunting the king's son. We must use the preterit form of the verb to have because Bob is referring to a moment in a film which has already been seen.
1 made: The verb 'to make' usually expresses a direct action rather than a passive or indirect one. We might say 'the king made his son leave the kingdom'.
1 did: We cannot use 'did' to introduce an indirect construction such as this. One doesn't 'do someone something'.
2 hunted: The expression 'to have something done by someone' uses the verb 'to have' followed by a past participle. 'Hunted' is the past participle of the verb 'to hunt'.
2 hunt: We cannot use the present tense verb 'hunt' here. However, we could say 'the King had some villains hunt his son'.
2 to hunt: We cannot use the infinitive verb 'to hunt' here. However, we could say 'the King instructed some villains to hunt his son'.
3 makes: The construction 'to make someone do something' is often used with an impersonal subject (such as 'it' or 'that', referring to an idea or previous statement). Bob is saying that the pygmies in the film 'cause' him to wonder.
3 has: The construction 'to have someone do something' is very rarely used with impersonal subjects.
3 does: 'Does' does not make sense in the context. It cannot be used in this type of construction.
4 wonder: In the construction 'make someone do something' the secondary verb (wonder) is always used in the infinitive form without 'to'. 'To wonder' is to be inquisitive about something, or ask a question, often to oneself.
4 to wonder: We cannot not use the full infinitive (to wonder) here. When using 'make someone do something' constructions, the secondary verb (wonder) is always used without the infinitive marker 'to'.
4 wondering: We cannot use the -ING form of the verb (wondering) here. However, we might say 'that movie left me wondering'.
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