[Grammar] Short or long infinitive

[cnistor]

Hello.Here are two exercises i came across today.
I really must get.......the central heating.
a)somebody to fix
b)somebody fix
They ought to have......replace the broken windows.
a)somebody to
b)somebody
The correct answers are marked with red.
I don't get it.Why does the first sentence use the long infinitive and the second sentence the short infinitive?

 

[5jj]

I don't get it.Why does the first sentence use the long infinitive and the second sentence the short infinitive?

More commonly used terms are: 'the bare infinitive' (fix) and the 'to-infinitive' (to fix).

I am afraid that the answer here is simply, "That's the way it is".

We have somebody do something, but we get somebody to do something.

 

[cnistor]

Ok,thank you.

 

[Teia]

Hello.Here are two exercises i came across today.
I really must get.......the central heating.
a)somebody to fix
b)somebody fix
They ought to have......replace the broken windows.
a)somebody to
b)somebody
The correct answers are marked with red.
I don't get it.Why does the first sentence use the long infinitive and the second sentence the short infinitive?

Hi
The correct answer is : CAUSATIVE VERBS AND THEIR USAGE

This is a matter of using causative structures. Among other causative verbs - have, make, let - get is the only one followed by a long infinitive.

Difference in use between have and get as causative verbs:

I`ll have the mechanic check my brakes - I`ll give the mechanic the responsibility to check my brakes

I`ll get the mechanic to check my brakes - the mechanic is not convinced that there is smth wrong with my brakes [ the brakes of my car ] but, still, I convinced him to check them.

Teia

 

[SoothingDave]

I do not think in everyday life there is a semantical difference between "getting" a mechanic to check your brakes and "having" him do it.