"to have" someone do something

Question

How would I express the idea "to have" someone do something. "have" is what is tripping me up.

example: I had him do his homework before dinner. Or Have him call me tomorrow.

I have heard parents use "Lo pusó a hacer su tarea" but I didn't know if this could be used all the time or if it is colloquial.

Thanks ¡Gracias!

Great Question, Deedeegirl :) It's a tricky one for sure! - FELIZ77, May 13, 2014

Answer 1

You want to say "Lo puse (not: pusó ) a hacer su tarea (o sus deberes) antes de comer." This is universal.

For the phone call: Por favor, Pídale (or: Dile) que me llame mañana.

:) - FELIZ77, May 13, 2014

Answer 2

I am not a native speaker so wait for a native speaker but .........

This might be what you are looking for.

I had my house painted. - Yo tenía mi casa pintada. I did not do it - but no obligation involved..

I had to have my house painted. - Yo tenía que tener mi casa pintada.

As opposed to

I have painted my house. - He pintado mi casa.

No, you're saying that you had a painted house.I could be wrong of course. - annierats, May 14, 2014

That maybe true Annie - so how do I say "I had my house painted?" Annie - ian-hill, May 15, 2014

Answer 3

Hello Deedee girl

Your question:

How would I express the idea "to have" someone do something. "have" is what is tripping me up.example: I had him do his homework before dinner

I think that this is a situation where / in which you are making or compelling someone else to do something:

In England we would say/ it is more common to say I made him do his homework I personally also think it also sounds better than had him do his homework,( I double checked this with my mother here who has a very good standard of English....because they taught grammar to children in schools in her day lol)

You can use hacer or obligar a ...

I made him (had him) do his homework before dinner. = Lo obligué a hacer sus deberes antes de cenar. (o antes de comer) cenar = to dine/have dinner vs comer = to eat

Or Have him call me tomorrow.

I would rephrase that request as (please) Ask him to ring me tomorrow = (Por favor) Quiere(s) pedir que él me llame, mañana.

You could also use the imperative: Por favor, pídale que me llame mañana.

Corrijan mi español, por favor

I hope this helps

I am thinking of compeling someone to do something but not as harsh as "making" them do something. Sometimes teachers will say "have your child read with you daily" instead of Make your child read with you... - deedeegill72, May 13, 2014

they use "had" to sound less bossy, but it really is the same idea. :) thanks - deedeegill72, May 13, 2014

Yes Deedeegirl, but I believe 'had him do' does not translate well into Spanish or would give a different meaning from that which you intended :) - FELIZ77, May 13, 2014

If you are talking directly to someone like a parent you can use a gentler translation but in this case you are only describing what had happened after the event - FELIZ77, May 13, 2014

Infact, having worked in a primary school for 12 years as a teaching assistant in England, I know the way that teachers usually phrase their suggestions about such matters in a more tactful manner! - - FELIZ77, May 13, 2014

They would probably say something like: Please could you make sure that he (she) reads to you as often as possible? - FELIZ77, May 13, 2014

deedee "have your child read with you daily" instead of "Make your child read with you.." is the same as in "haz que lea" and "oblígalo a que lea" ;) - chileno, May 13, 2014

:-) - jphip, May 13, 2014

Thank You very much for your explanation about the subtle differences, Chileno :) I feel that have learnt something very useful here, too ! - FELIZ77, May 13, 2014

I'm with you on ' make', Feliz, and Chileno's 'Haz' sounds the best option. - annierats, May 14, 2014

Thanks, Annie :) - FELIZ77, May 14, 2014

Thanks all! :) - deedeegill72, May 16, 2014

Answer 4

A Spanish friend of mine has just emailed me the following:.

Yo diría: "Hice pintar mi casa" for "I had my house painted"

Hopefully other native Spanish speakers would like to make a comment or two.

I'm sure that is correct, Ian but that is not the same in meaning as having/making someone else do something for themselves or for you . Chileno's comment under my post is the closest answer ! :) - FELIZ77, May 15, 2014

I quote it here: "deedee "have your child read with you daily" instead of "Make your child read with you.." is the same as in "haz que lea" and "oblígalo a que lea" ;) " - chileno 2 days ago - FELIZ77, May 15, 2014

So what would be "I had him paint his or my house" ?? :) - ian-hill, May 16, 2014

le hice pintar mi casa/su casa. - annierats, May 16, 2014

Answer 5

"I had him paint his house." He may have painted it himself.

I had him have his house painted. He did not paint it himself.

or

I had him do his homework before dinner. = Somehow I made him do it.

or

Have him call me tomorrow. = Ask him to call me.

Come on native Spanish speakers put us out of our misery please.

What is the correct Spanish for the above?

Answer 6

Suggestions:

I had him paint his house. -- Le ordené pintar su casa?? (Le mandé que pintase su casa o Le ordené que arreglara que alguién pintaríá su casa? )

I had him do his homework before dinner. Le hice //(ordené) hacer sus deberes antes de comer/cenar.

Have him call me tomorrow. Dile que me llame mañana, por favor.

We could play around with these for a long time, Ian, but I suggest that a direct word for word translation doesn't work very well.

Corrections appreciated.

I know taht Annie but I am asking if there is a similar construct in Spanish. - ian-hill, May 16, 2014

It is easy to re-word the English and get that into Spanish. - ian-hill, May 16, 2014

Answer 7

Another way it would be using

pedir que + subjuntive (present or imperfect)

This way is not not as harsh as "making" them do something.

So, I had him do his homework before dinner Le pedí que hiciera sus deberes/tareas antes de cenar.

Have him call me tomorrow Le pedí que me llamara mañana.

Hope this helps. You can find useful Spanish tips and interesting articles in my website, visit it! Many of you have already visited but I'd really appreciate if you click "Me gusta" if you liked the posts

¡Buen día!

That does not answer my questions. We can say "ask him to call me! and "have him call me" - ian-hill, May 16, 2014

Are there Spanish constructs such as "Have him call me" ? gracias. - ian-hill, May 16, 2014