Please tell me about the usage of “have somebody/something doing something”.
Many thanks
Nessie
It can involve hiring, or sometimes obliging, someone to do something for you.
e.g.
I’m having him cut my lawn.
I’m having my roof mended.
She’s has him running round in circles.
Could you please be more specific, Molly?
Besides, how different is it compared to the causative form?
Hey, my name is Danny.
Hope I can be of help here.
See here, Nessie?
I can understand the causative form quite clearly, but I just still wonder about the structure “have somebody/ something” doing something"…
Why?
Sorry, Molly, but I think you’re barking up the wrong tree 
The question was not about “have someone do something” or “have something done”, but rather “have someone doing something” 
Hi, Nessie
As regards the original question, I find these examples:
I won’t have anyone smoking in this office as long as I’m the boss here.
e.g. “I won’t allow anyone to smoke”
Woman: What is Jim doing?
Man: I have him cleaning out the garage.
e.g. if I have somebody doing something he is doing it right now.
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/29245-have-somebody-do-doing.html
http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/4556-grammar.html
Hi Alex
The idea of ‘not allow’ is typical in this negative construction:
‘will not have (someone/anyone) doing (something specific)’
You got the meaning of ‘have someone doing something’ exactly right. It basically means ‘cause someone to be doing something at the moment’. In other words the ‘doing’ is in progress and is therefore incomplete.
Likewise, if you say “I had him cleaning the garage yesterday”, it is unclear whether he finished cleaning the garage. The process of cleaning the garage is suggested rather than the idea that the task was completed.
If you say “I had him clean the garage yesterday”, that suggests that he completed the task.
.
Hi Lost soul,
Thank you vert much for your help 
Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted to ask. So now, to put it in a nutshell, the structure “have somebody doing something” has two usages:
1/ Allow somebody to do something
and
2/ somebody is doing something for you
Is my summary completely correct?
Many thanks in advance
Nessie
What’s the difference? If one knows how to use the -ing form, one shouldn’t have too many problems jumping from “have something done” to “have someone do/doing something”.
Can’t you work these out?
[i]I’m going to have Giorgio do my hair next time. Gino has made such a mess of it.
I know he’s always booked up, but I tell you I’m going to have Giorgio doing my hair by the end of the year.[/i]
How about: “I’m going to have him mowing my lawn if it’s the last thing I do” “He’s not going to get away with it again.”?
In other words the ‘doing’ is in progress and is therefore incomplete.
Not always in progress at the time of speaking. (See the progressive when used for arranagements.)
“I’m going to have him mowing my lawn if it’s the last thing I do” “He’s not going to get away with it again.”
Sorry but too many different ideas confuse me… (+_+)
[quote=“Yankee”]
The idea of ‘not allow’ is typical in this negative construction:
‘will not have (someone/anyone) doing (something specific)’
=> If possible, may I ask this question, Amy? (Please ignore me if the answer is “No” - Many thanks anyway :? )
=> Do you mean the idea of “not allow” is typical in that very construction only? So this sentence: “They had him using their car yesterday” can’t be understood as “They allow him to use their car yesterday”?
quote]
Right, Nessie.
In the sentence “They had him using their car yesterday” it sounds like they asked him to use their car (for whatever reason).
However, if you say “I won’t have you using my car without my permission”, that would be understood to mean “You are not allowed to use my car unless I give you permission.”
.
Hi,
In Oxford Dictionary, i find the meanings of “have sth/sb doing…”:
a. to cause sth to be done or happen
I’ll have the television working again soon.
b. to cause sb to do sth (as a result of one’s activity)
If you play you radio on beach you’ll have everyone complaining.
Hi Hothu,
Thank you very much for your idea. I just want to ask a question: are you sure that was cited from the OED? (This example seems not correct:
If you play you[color=red]r radio on [color=red]the beach you’ll have everyone complaining
I always thought the sentence ‘I’ll have you swimming.’ (for example) sounds threatening? Like ‘I will force you to swim’ or ‘it is inevitable’.
Hi,
Another interpretation is that someone is saying this to a child perhaps who finds it difficult to swim and the parent says: Don’t worry I’ll have you swimming before the summer comes and then you can enjoy the seaside.
Alan
So many usages for the structure “have someone doing something” now. I’m so confused… (++) (++)