Causative Passive: HAVE/GET SOMETHING DONE

1. Intentional use

Compare these sentences:

I painted my house last month It means I did the work myself

I had/got my house painted last month It means that someone else did the work for me

If you 'have something done', you get somebody else to do something for you.

I'm going to have my hair cut.

She's having her house redecorated.
I'm having a copy of the report sent to you

Get something done suggests more effort than Have something done

Im going to the photographers to get my photograph taken, but when we arrive, we say:
Ive come to have my photograph taken

*Some grammars say Get is just more informal than Have in the causative form. In informal
English, we can replace 'have' by 'get'.

We're getting a new telephone system installed.

They will be getting the system repaired as quickly as they can.
I got the bill sent direct to the company.

2. Unintentional use. It is the same construction : Things happen to us but we do not want
them to happen or ask for them to be done

The construction with Have suggests the subject was quite innocent, with Get suggests that the
subject was partially responsible for what happened to him

I had my watch stolen last night (I didnt have anything to do with it).
I got my nose broken in a fight ( I was also fighting and doing harm).

We can also use 'have/got something done' in situations where something bad has happened
to people or their possessions. This is not something they wanted to happen.

John had all his money stolen from his hotel bedroom.
We had our car damaged by a falling tree.
I got my nose broken playing rugby.
EXERCISES 31.They think I come from Italy
32.People feared that the criminals would
1. Write in the passive. escape
33.People hope that prices won't go up this
1. Peter bought the house year
2. Mary will bring the wine 34.People generally assume that the USA is
3. My friends are repairing the car the richest country in the world
4. Most students speak English in this class
5. An elderly couple sheltered her
6. A policeman helped him 2. Write in the active:
7. She finished her work by nine o'clock 1. We are taught grammar by Ms Sullivan.
8. Nobody can repair this broken chair 2. He was praised by the teacher.
9. They carried him into the hospital 3. The injured were taken to the hospital by
10.Are they typing the letters? the firemen.
11.They have not taken the car into the garage 4. The town was destroyed by an
12.Someone has spilt some milk on the carpet earthquake.
13.Did anyone answer your question? 5. The teacher was pleased with the boys
14.They showed me the cathedral work.
15.They told the children to leave the room 6. The building was damaged by the fire.
16.They allowed her to go to the dining room 7. By whom were you taught French?
17.They didn't tell me the truth 8. You will be given a ticket by the manager.
18.Someone will give you a new notebook 9. The streets were thronged with spectators.
19.Someone is teaching him English 10. We will be blamed by everyone.
20.They had offered me a job 11. The trees were blown down by the wind.
21.Someone has read her the letter 12. The thieves were caught by the police.
22.Nobody has slept in this bed 13. The letter was posted by Alice.
23.They looked after the baby 14. We were received by the hostess.
24.They have been looking at her for hours 15. The snake was killed with a stick.
25.They smiled at the girl as she walked by 16. The minister was welcomed by the
26.People speak well of your friend people.
27.We must look for the key 17. He was found guilty of murder.
28.People say that the president will arrive on 18. This house was built by John Mathews in
Monday 1991.
29.People think that money is the most
important thing in life
30.They thought that he was an artist
5. Rewrite the sentences in the passive, country.
making the words in italics the subject of 5. They gave him artificial respiration.
the sentence or clause in which they 6. Why didn't they offer him the job?
appear. 7. Didn't they promise you a rise in salary at
the beginning of the year?
1. They gave the oldest councilor the freedom 8. Someone left him a legacy of 10.000.
of the city. 9. When he looked at the stamps, he found
2. They denied access to the secret documents they had sold him forgeries.
to all but a few. 10. What did they pay you for doing the job?
3. Someone showed the child how to use the 11. Someone should tell him never to do that
telephone. again.
4. They declared him persona non grata and 12. They asked you to meet me here at 11
allowed him only forty-eight hours to leave the o'clock, not half past.
13. Will someone send me the details? 8. It has been tried three times.
14. We shall send you the godos as soon as 9. She was punished by Mr West.
they are available. 10. He has been asked to leave the house.
15. Someone must teach that boy a lesson! 11. It was meant for Helen.
12. I was invited by John.
6. Make questions to which the underlined 13. Yes , it has already been completed.
words are the answers: 14. This book has been translated into 5
1. Peter was accused of murder languages.
2. No, it hasn't been answered 15. It must be written in ink.
3. He was arrested because he hit a man. 16. It was written by Jean.
4. Few of the girls have been invited. 17. The book was found under the table.
5. George has been taken to hospital. 18. They have been told to come.
6. It will be done next month. 19. It was signed yesterday
7. The first experiment was made in 1950. 20. It was beautifully written.

Causative Passive exercises 9. (we / organize / our last party)

_____________________by professionals.
1. Complete the sentences and make
clear that the people don't / didn't do it
themselves. (The first sentence is given
as an example.) 2. Complete the sentences with the
correct form of have and the verb in
Yesterday, (I / cut / my hair) I had my
hair cut brackets.

1. Every Friday, (Joe / wash / his car) 1. My hair's getting far too long. I need to
_____________________ _______ it _______ . (cut)
2. Tomorrow, (she / repair / her shower) 2. Noah hates _______ his photo _______ .
____________ (take)
3. Each Saturday, (we / deliver / a 3. I've lost my key so I'd better
pizza)__________________to our home.
_______ another one _______ . (make)
4. Last year, (Bob / clean / his 4. My watch isn't working properly. I ought to
house)__________________ by a charwoman.
_______ it _______ . (repair)
5. As Phil had a broken arm, (he / type / his
5. I'm going to _______ my suit _______ as
texts) ___________________by his secretary.
there's a coffee stain on the sleeve. (dryclean)
6. (I / pick up / the goods)
________________________tomorrow in the 6. It's time we _______ our car ______ .
afternoon. (service)
7. (we / redecorate / our walls) 7. Katie can't find a wedding dress she likes so
___________________last summer.
she's considering _______ one _______ .
8. Whenever Clara is staying at this hotel, (she (make)
/ carry / her bags)_________ into her room.
8. As this summer is expected to be really hot
we're planning on _______ air-conditioning _______. (check out)
_______. (instal) 10. The police suspected the fugitive was
9. Jenny's worried she may have a high hiding somewhere in the building so they
cholesterol level so she wants to _______ it _______ it _______. (search)

KEY TO THE EXERCISES: 29.Money is thought to be the most important

thing in life / It is thought that money is the
1. Write in the passive. most important thing in life
30.It is thought that he was an artist / He is
1. The house was bought by Peter thought to be an artist
2. The wine will be brought by Mary 31.It is thought I come from Italy / I am thought
3. The car is being repaied by my friends to come from Italy
4. English is spokenin this class by most 32.It is feared that the criminals would escape
students. /The criminals are feared to escape
5. She was sheltered by an elderly couple. 33.It is hoped that prices won't go up this year /
6. He was helped by a policeman Prices are hoped not to go up this year
7. Her work was finished by nine o'clock. 34.It is generally assume that the USA is the
8. This broken chair cant be repaired. richest country in the world / The USA is
9. He was carried into the hospital generally assumed to be the richest country in
10.Are the letters being typed? the world
11.The carhasnt been taken into the garage
12.Some milk has been spilt on the carpet
13. Was your question answered? 2. Write in the active:
14. I was shown the cathedral/ The cathedral 1. Ms Sullivan teaches us grammar.
was shown to me 2. The teacher praised him.
15. the children were told to leave the room 3. The firemen took the injured to the
16.She was allowed to go to the dining room hospital.
17. I wasnt told the truth/ The truth wasnt told 4. An earthquake destroyed the town.
to me 5. The boys work pleased the teacher.
18. You will be given a new notebook/ A new 6. The fire damaged the building.
notebook will be given to you 7. Who taught you French?
19. He is being taught English / English is 8. The manager will give you a ticket.
being told to him 9. Spectators thronged the streets.
20. I had been offered a job/ I job had been 10. Everyone will blame us.
offered to me 11. The wind blew down the trees.
21. She has been read the letter / The letter 12. The police caught the thieves.
has been read to her 13. Alice posted the letter.
22.This bed hasnt been slept in 14. The hostess received us.
23.The baby was looked after 15. They/somebody killed the snake with a
24. She has been being looked at for hours stick.
25.The girl was smiled at as she walked by 16. The people welcomed the minister.
26.Your friend is wll spoken of 17. They found him guilty of murder.
27.The key must be looked for 18. John Mathews built this house in 1991.
28.The president is said to arrive on Monday /It
is said (that) the president will arrive on 5. Rewrite the sentences in the passive,
Monday making the words in italics the subject of
the sentence or clause in which they 14. How many languages has this book been
appear. translated into? Into 5 languages.
15. How must itbe written? in ink.
1. The oldest councilor was given the freedom 16. Who was it written by? Jean.
of the city. 17. Where was the book found? under the
2. Access to the secret documents was denied table.
to all but a few. 18. What have they been told? to come.
3. The child was shown how to use the 19. When was it signed? yesterday
telephone. 20. How was it written? beautifully
4. He was declared persona non grata and was Causative Passive
allowed only forty-eight hours to leave the
country. EXERCISE 1
5. He was given artificial respiration.
6. Why wasnt he offered the job/ Why wasnt 1. Every Friday, Joe has his car washed.
the job offered to him? 2. Tomorrow, (she is going to have her
7. Werent you promised a rise in salary at the shower repaired.
beginning of the year? 3. Each Saturday, (we have a pizza
8. He was left a legacy of 10.000.
delivered to our home.
9. When he looked at the stamps, he found
4. Last year, Bob had his house cleaned
they he had been sold forgeries.
10. What were you paid for doing the job?
by a charwoman.
11. He should told never to do that again. 5. As Phil had a broken arm, (he was
12. You were asked to meet me here at 11 having his texts typed by his secretary.
o'clock, not half past. 6. I m having the goods picked up
13. Will I be sent the details? tomorrow in the afternoon.
14. The godos will be sent to you as soon as 7. We had our walls redecorated last
they are available. summer.
15. That boy must be taught a lesson! 8. Whenever Clara is staying at this hotel,
she has her bags carried into her room.
9. We had our last party organized by
6. Make questions to which the underlined professionals.
words are the answers:
1. What was Peter accused of ? murder EXERCISE 2
2. Has it been answered?
3. Why was he arrested? because he hit a 1.have / cut 2. having / taken
man. 3. have / made 4. have / repaired
4. How many of the girls have been invited?
Few 5. have / drycleaned 6. had /
5. Where has George been taken to? hospital.
serviced 7. having / made 8. having
6. When will it be done? next month.
/ installed
7. When was the first experiment made? in
1950.
8. How many times has it been tried? three 9. have / checked out 10. had /
times. searched
9. Who was she punished by? Mr West.
10. What has hebeen asked? to leave the
house.
11. Who was it meant for? Helen.
12. Who was I invited by? John.
13. Has it already been completed. Yes