Level: Intermediate – Advanced
The flower and plants in the Johnsons’ garden are well maintained. This morning, the gardener came and tended it.
The Johnsons have their garden maintained.
This means that the Johnsons arranged for the gardener to maintain their garden. They don’t maintain it themselves.
Have/get something done is used to express that the subject arranged for somebody else to do something for them.
The form is: has/have/had + object + past participle
COMPARE:
Marta cut her hair. vs Marta had her hair cut.
(She cut it herself.) (Someone cut Marta’s hair for her.)
Jenny replaced the broken window. vs Jenny had the broken window replaced.
(She replaced the broken window on her own.) (Someone replaced the broken window for her.)
Did you do your nails yourself? vs Did you have your nails done?
(Did you paint your nails yourself?) (Did someone paint your nails?)
Get something done can also be used in place of have something done especially in informal spoken English.
When are you going to get your passport renewed?
You need to get your computer fixed as soon as possible.
Mrs. Holmes needs to get that lump on her head checked.
However, in some cases, have or get something done has a different meaning.
Dr. Smith had/got his medical license revoked.
In this situation, Dr. Smith didn’t arrange for someone to revoke his medical license. Here it means his medical license was revoked by the medical authorities.
When this is what you mean by have/get something done, it usually connotes something negative that happens to someone or things that belong to them.