HAVE SOMETHING DONE

We use this construction when we want to talk about things that other people do for us rather than doing things ourselves. Since it is usually a service or a product we need, we pay people or we convince them or ask them to do it for us. We use HAVE (present, past, future or any version) + OBJECT (something) + PAST PARTICIPLE (done). Let´s analyze a few examples.

• Mr. Spencer is having his computer updated now.
• Where are you  going to have your hair cut this time?
• My sister isn´t having her house redecorated, just painted.
• Paul has just had the oil in his car changed.
• My sister Marie had her nails  done yesterday.
• Do you think I should have new photographs taken for my passport?

Notice that you change the form of  “HAVE” to use different tenses (present, past, future, perfect tenses and modal auxiliaries) in affirmative, negative or interrogative forms.

We can use the construction  GET + OBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE with the same meaning as HAVE SOMETHING DONE, though is less formal.  Here are a few examples:

• We  are getting our computers in the office updated now.
• How often do your children get their  hair cut ?
• Mom needs to get her eyeglasses renewed.
• Many of our neighbors needed to get their houses repaired after the flood.

When we want to mention the person who is doing something for us, with the same meaning as have something done, we can use the following  construction: HAVE (present, past, future or any version)+ PERSON + VERB IN SIMPLE FORM (no preposition). For instance:

• We are having the technician repair our washing machine.
• Mrs. Johnson had her children help her with the housework last weekend.
• When our parents have to go out of the city, they have Mrs. Omaña take care of us.

As a last point, we can also use the construction GET + SOMEONE + TO DO + SOMETHING for us when we want to mention the person who is helping us, with the same meaning as HAVE SOMEONE DO SOMETHING. The only difference in construction is the use of the INFINITIVE FORM (TO DO) when we use “GET”.  Remember that this kind of help happens either because we are paying them, or because we have asked them or convinced them to do it. Here are some examples:

• I got a very good technician to fix my fridge.
• I haven´t gotten Mr. Robles to come prune my garden yet. He´s been very busy.
• Say, did you finally get Lizbeth to  babysit our children tonight?

SOME FACTS ABOUT ANIMAL MAGNETISM

(I) Every animal has its own magnetism which is its source of strength and intelligence. The glands, nerves, and ducts are batteries; ducts and glands store batteries, the nerves store motive and sensation (or intelligence). The brain is the principal battery of sensation (or intelligence), while the heart is the principal motive battery.

(II) The child begins to train himself to make use of his limbs, first by swinging his arms and legs, second by creeping, third by walking. Note a child feeding itself, how unsteady he is in getting his food to his mouth; sometimes his spoon misses his mouth and the food is spilled, for which he usually receives a slap, although he has displayed all his energy in getting his food in his mouth. Next we find him a trained athlete and skilled laborer, capable of applying himself to most anything he cares to do.

(III) But little attention is paid to the training of animal magnetism. Any one with nerves in his teeth can concentrate magnetism in the teeth, so it can be easily felt, also the lips; by training the magnetism,  it can be concentrated in any part of the body. This takes constant practice and could be used when one has any disability by concentrating the magnetism in the disabled part, causing the blood to circulate more freely at the point where the magnetism is concentrated, and thus improving the disabled part. The osteologist does this by massage, the real faith cure man by concentrating his magnetism on the patient, the practitioner uses medicine and drugs, each having their own magnetism, etc. Accordingly, many diseases are contagious by people becoming inoculated by mild magnetism which comes from some kind of matter.

(IV) The hypnotist or mesmerist gains control of his opponents through animal magnetism and controls every movement. The nerves cease to act and the hypnotist is boss. The patient can be made to exert great strength and pass dangerous points without falling. A hypnotist or mesmerist is invariably in poor health and flesh. This is caused by the over-taxation of his own nerves and ducts.

(V) Animal magnetism can be used like wireless telegraphy. Miss Helen Keller is one of the best known for telepathy. She was born blind, also deaf and dumb. She is a great linguist and well educated.

(VI) Another example is that the dumb animals in their wild state use telepathy much when encountering danger; their keen scent of the deer, horse, etc., enables them to determine the direction of the enemy.

(VII) Predestination is cultivated and in most instances comes true. I observed this in the case of William McKinley, martyred President of the United States of America, who said he wanted to follow in the footsteps of James A. Garfield, also martyred President. Let us see how nearly he came following in his footsteps: Born in the same locality, President of the same country, each supported a platform of good currency, each assassinated in the same month, and in the seat of the Presidency. Both died a lingering death; the difference in the length of time of their flourishment was 8 months and 7 days.

(VIII) Next observe the old in their feebleness and we see these well trained hands tremble; the gland ducts and nerves are withering, the animal magnetism is weakening, which renders them childish .

(IX)  The ducts, glands, and nerves throw off their magnetism in many different ways, in exertion, fright, fear, anguish, discontent, happiness, kindness, loveliness, desire, etc.

(X)  Dr. T. B. Robertson discovered that Tethelin , located in the pituitary body at the base of the brain,  produces the growth of the body.

Cambridge University Press. (2015). Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Fourth Edition.

Eastwood, J. (2019). Oxford Practice Grammar. Intermediate. Oxford University Press.

Hewings, M. (2013) Advanced Grammar in Use with Answers: A Self-Study Reference  and Practice Book for Advanced Learners of English. CUP

Murray, L. (2014) English Grammar.  Cambridge University Press.

Swan, M & Walter, C. (2016). Oxford English Grammar Course. Intermediate. Oxford University Press.

Images_Compra propia de licencias de banco de imágenes de Pixton y Pngtree, exentas de derechos de autor. https://www-es.pixton.com/ & https://es.pngtree.com/free-backgrounds.

Reading Text retrieved and adapted fromhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1331_ ABC´s of Science by Charles A. Oliver. Chapter 6. This public-domain (U.S.) text was scanned and proofed by Ron Burkey. The Project Gutenberg text (designated “abcos10”) was subsequently converted to LATEX with GutenMark software, and then re-formatted.

• All practice exercises and charts were  written by Connie Reyes Cruz_2022_ENES- LEÓN-UNAM
• Audio version performed by Isabella, Sally, Kimberly, John and Matt_Compra propia de licencia de uso de voces en Voicemaker, exenta de derechos de autor. https://voicemaker.in/ _Connie Reyes Cruz_2022_