Question about Causative Sentences 2
I think I understand how to use the phrase "have+object+p.p." like the following example.

"I had my car repaired. "(Someone else repaired my car for me.)

But I also learned that the subject in the sentence could be the person who did the action when the
sentence is used to describe something has been done.

Let's say, if you have homework to do by tomorrow, you could say something like this;

"I need to have it done by tomorrow."

It sounds a little weird if someone else is going to do the homework.

So I'm a bit confused how to judge who did the action in the sentence using the phrase "have+object+p.p.".
Is this such an ambiguous phrase? And does it all depend on the contexts?

Question

Question about Causative Sentences 2
I think I understand how to use the phrase "have+object+p.p." like the following example.

"I had my car repaired. "(Someone else repaired my car for me.)

But I also learned that the subject in the sentence could be the person who did the action when the 
sentence is used to describe something has been done.

Let's say, if you have homework to do by tomorrow, you could say something like this;

"I need to have it done by tomorrow."

It sounds a little weird if someone else is going to do the homework.

So I'm a bit confused how to judge who did the action in the sentence using the phrase "have+object+p.p.".
Is this such an ambiguous phrase? And does it all depend on the contexts?

Answer

Hi Leesa,

Thank you for your explanation.

Yes, I understand I should not spend a lot of time thinking about small differences, 
but I was just curios to know about that. Thanks to you, it became clear to me.
I appreciate it.

Answer

Oh you poor thing. you are like me and need to know exactly why it is so. It's just not good enough if it doesn't make perfect sense, rite?!
I will try to help you with this one. 
I had my car repaired. 
If I did it myself, it would be either; I repaired my car, or I have repaired my car. ( I did something and I have done something are the same. ) The only difference is " I have done something" is more grammatically correct. Heaps and heaps of people use both or either. 
Next. 
I have had my car repaired. This is also correct but because it ads an extra word, it just takes too long to say, so people generally omit the " have ".

I need to have it done by tomorrow. 
This means, obviously I know, something needs to be done by tomorrow. If you take the "I" out of it and replace it with you, we, they etc, you will see that the emphasis is on the fact that 'it needs to be done by tomorow.' The 'I' is merely telling us that you yourself are going to do it. 
Had is past tense. He had, I had, we had, they had etc. 
have is present tense. 
I hope I'm not confusing you.

Examples: I had my hair done today. 
Meaning: I went to the hairdresser and got a new hairdo.

I had my teeth done yesterday. 
I went to the dentist yesterday.

I have a train to catch. 
I must go or I will miss the train.

I have too much to do. 
I am too busy.

Don't overthink things. Good luck.

Answers · 2

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