0
Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Have someone do something
Can someone tell me if it''s OK to say "I had John painting the house all morning" ?
Top answer
Yes, it means that you caused John (by threats, promises, or whatever) to be painting the house. It emphasizes the ongoing activity-- you kept John busy-- compared to the infinitive form ('I had John paint the house all morning'), which states John's assignment. 'Have' is a causative verb here, like 'make' and 'let'.
- Yes, it means that you caused John (by threats, promises, or whatever) to be painting the house.
- It emphasizes the ongoing activity-- you kept John busy-- compared to the infinitive form ('I had John paint the house all morning'), which states John's assignment.
- 'Have' is a causative verb here, like 'make' and 'let'.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
Yes, it means that you caused John (by threats, promises, or whatever) to be painting the house. It emphasizes the ongoing activity-- you kept John busy-- compared to the infinitive form ('I had John paint the house all morning'), which states John's assignment.
'Have' is a causative verb here, like 'make' and 'let'.
'Have' is a causative verb here, like 'make' and 'let'.
0
Related Questions