Difference between do something and have(get) something done.

Question

Hi teachers.My understanding is that If somebody says "Finish this by tomorrow." you have to finish it,but he says "Get it done by tomorrow." either you or somebody else have to do it. A friend asks me to go out and I need to clean my room first. There is no one else to do it for me. Is it ok to say "I need to get my room cleaned."? If yes, why?Thanks in advance~~

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

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Hi teachers.
My understanding is that If somebody says "Finish this by tomorrow." you have to finish it,
but he says "Get it done by tomorrow." either you or somebody else ~~have~~ has to do it.
A friend asks me to go out and I need to clean my room first. There is no one else to do it for me.
Is it ok to say "I need to get my room cleaned."? If yes, why?

Thanks in advance~~

Yes, it's OK to say that. The reason is that no one is stopping you from saying whatever you want. No one will arrest you and/or put you in prison if you say that. I'd say that makes it OK to say.

But if you want the logic of the situation, the reason is that your friend will interpret it as an excuse for not going out with him or her because he or she will be smart enough to know that neither you nor anyone else can be in two places at the same time. You mentioned the room cleaning as a response to being asked to go out. He or she will not take that as a random remark that has nothing to do with the request to go out. That will lead him or her to believe that you or someone else will be cleaning your room, and in either case, you have to be there, whether to supervise the cleaning or to do the cleaning yourself. If that is so, then you can't go out with your friend.

Your friend may also additionally weigh the probability of it being one case or the other, although that is not, strictly speaking, necessary. Your friend may decide that the probability is much higher that you will be doing the cleaning yourself and assume that. Or your friend may assume that someone else will be cleaning your room. Or he or she may be unable to decide, so be ready to be asked whether you or someone else will be doing the cleaning.

CJ

Difference between do something and have(get) something done.

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