Get / Have something done. — English Notes

Have / Get something done : When we use ' Have something done ' we mean that we arrange for somebody else to do something for us.(1)

Prof.George can repair his car.(repair himself)
(OR) He can have the car repaired.(i.e he can arrange for somebody to repair)
Prof.George repaired his car.( i.e he repaired himself - past)
Prof.George had his car repaired.(i.e he arranged for somebody to repair it - past)
A: Are you going to clean the room or will you have it cleaned?
B: No, I am so tired. I will have it cleaned by the servant.
The newly-weds are having their photographs taken.(i.e The photographer is taking the photos)
Did she make her churidar or did she have it stitched outside?
She had her churidar stitched at City Tailors.
Where did you have your hair cut?
I had my hair cut at Royal Saloon.

(2) We can say 'Get something done ' instead of ' Have something done '( mainly in informal spoken English)

She got her churidar stitched .(i.e she had her churidar stitched)
He got his hair cut.
She got her dresses washed.
He got his car repaired.

(3) Sometimes ' Have something done ' has a different meaning. It refers to something happening to somebody or their belongings. Usually what happens is not pleasant.

He had his two sons wounded in the Iran- Iraq war.
He had his left hand broken in the accident.
When they got home after the film they found that they had all their money stolen.
You look very perplexed, what happened to you? Have you had your purse stolen?