This document provides information on the passive voice and causative constructions in English. It discusses the structure of the passive voice and how the passive is used to emphasize objects rather than subjects. It also covers impersonal passives used with verbs like "said" and "reported" and transforming clauses into the passive. The document then explains the causative constructions "have/get something done" which is used when another person performs an action for someone. Examples are provided and sentences are transformed between active, passive and causative forms.

2. USE OF ENGLISH: THE PASSIVE AND THE CAUSATIVE

3. 1.GENERAL PASSIVE VVOOIICCEE:: ssttrruuccttuurree
PASSIVE VERB: BE + PAST
Active sentence: THE POLICE CAUGHT THE THIEVES
THE
POLICE
SUBJECT
CAUGHT
ACTIVE VERB
THE THIEVES
DIRECT
COMPLEMENT
PARTICIPLE
THE
THIEVES
NEW SUBJECT
WERE CAUGHT
PASSIVE VERB
(BE in the same tense as the active form)
BY THE POLICE
AGENT

4. PASSIVE VOICE: DIRECT AND INDIRECT OBJECTS
1. USE: the PASSIVE is used when the speaker wants to attatch more
importance to the OBJECT than to the SUBJECT.
2. VERBS with two objects: read these sentences
A friend lent me this book / a friend lent a book to me
Me is the INDIRECT OBJECT
A BOOK is the DIRECT OBJECT
In the PASSIVE, the DIRECT OBJECT or the INDIRECT OBJECT can be used as
the subject of the sentence.
1. I was lent a book by a friend
2. A book was lent to me by a friend.

5. 2. IMPERSONAL PASSIVE : RECEIVED INFORMATION
When talking about information that has been received, but we don’t
know who provided the information or the person who provided is
not important, we often use the following verbs:
SAID, REPORTED, BELIEVED, THOUGHT, KNOWN, UNDERSTOOD
Using the following patterns:
SENTENCE:
Some people say that this is a dangerous area.
PASSIVE:
It is said that this is a dangerous area.
1.IT + IS/WAS/HAS BEEN+ SAID //THAT CLAUSE + subject + active verb
Passive sentence Subordinate sentence

6. PASSIVE VOICE: RECEIVED INFORMATION
II.
SENTENCE:
(IMPERSONAL PASSIVE 2)
The police know (that) the man is using a false name
PASSIVE:
The man is known to be using a false name
PASSIVE: steps:
1. Find the subject of the SUBORDINATE SENTENCE
The man
2. Transform the MAIN VERB into PASSIVE
Is know
3. Write in INFINITIVE WITH TO the verb of the SUBORDINATE
SENTENCE:
To be using

7. PASSIVE VOICE: RECEIVED INFORMATION
III.
SENTENCE:
(IMPERSONAL PASSIVE 2)
She was tired that her brother annoyed her.
PASSIVE:
She was tired TO BE ANNOYED by her brother.
PASSIVE:
In this case, when expressing feelings, we transform into passive the
THAT CLAUSE using the INFINITIVE WITH to (PRESENT OR PAST
INFINITIVE)
Practice:
The players were that their rivals won the match playing unfairly.
TO
The players were sad ……………………………………

8. SSUUPPPPOOSSIITTIIOONNSS
We use the pattern:
1. SUBJECT of the SUBORDINATE CLAUSE+
2. be supposed in the same tense as the SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (see
correspondence below) +
3. TO+INFINITIVE In this same tense.
To talk about what people say or you have heard about sth.
E.g. :I’ve heard that they are moving house soon.
MAIN CLAUSE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE
PASSIVE: They are supposed TO BE MOVING house soon
TENSES CORRESPONDENCE :
PRESENT-/FUTURE-----------------------PRESENT INFINITIVE (TO MOVE)
PRESENT CONTINUOUS--------------------INFINITIVE CONTINUOUS (TO BE MOVING)
PAST(SIMPLE OR PERFECT)-------------------PERFECT INFINITIVE (TO HAVE MOVED)
I’ve heard that SHE GOT DIVORCED last year.
She was supossed to HAVE DIVORCED last year.

9. SSUUPPPPOOSSIITTIIOONNSS
PRACTICE:
1. I’ve heard that James is an expert on this subject. (present)
James is supposed TO BE an expert on this subject.
2. I’ve been told that Alice is leaving the country next week (present
continuous)
Alice is supposed TO BE LEAVING the country next week.
3. I’ve heard that Tom will be the next principal of the school. (future)
Tom is supposed TO BE the next principal of the school.
4. People have told me that it was a fantastic party (past)
It was supposed to HAVE BEEN a fantastic party.

10. 3. THE CAUSATIVE: HHAAVVEE//GGEETT SSTTHH DDOONNEE
Read these example
The hairdresser cuts my hair every month.
Who’s the subject?
The hairdresser
Who does the action?
The hairdresser.
English differentiates when the action is done by oneself and
when is done by another person:
Observe;
1. My mum cuts her hair every month.
2. The hairdresser cuts my mum’s hair every month
3. My mum has her hair cut every month by the hair dresser
When the actor is another person, Englsih uses the two last structures,
being 3 the CAUSATIVE: TO HAVE STH DONE

11. CAUSATIVE: HHAAVVEE//GGEETT SSTTHH DDOONNEE
Read these examples:
1. I’M GOING TO HAVE/ GET MY HAIR CUT TOMORROW
Who’s the subject?
I
Who does the action?
The hairdresser.
2. SHE HAD HER BAG STOLEN LAST WEEK
3. HE HAD HIS LEG BROKEN IN THE ACCIDENT
Who’s the subject?
She
Who does the action?
The thieves
What kind of action happened, pleasant or unpleasant?
Something unpleasant
4. I MUST GET THIS JOB DONE TODAY
It is important to finish the action or I can leave it until later?
It is important to finish the action without delay.

12. CAUSATIVE: HHAAVVEE//GGEETT SSTTHH DDOONNEE
When we want to stress that
- someone does an action for us,
- something unpleasant has happened or
- we have to finish something,
we use the causative HAVE/GET sth DONE.
PRACTICE: use the verbs at the end of the sentence to form the CAUSATIVE
1. Workers collect rubish once a week. COLLECT
HAVE OUR RUBISH COLLECTED ONCE A WEEK
We………………………………………………………………………………………….
2. An engineer repaired my computer yesterday. REPAIR
I…………………………………………………………………………
3. My new passport will expire soon. RENEW
I……………………………………………………………………………..
HAD/GOT MY COMPUTER REPAIRED YESTERDAY BY AN ENGINEER
WILL HAVE TO GET IT RENEWED

13. UUSSEE OOFF EENNGGLLIISSHH,, PPAARRTT 44
PASSIVES AND
CAUSATIVE
practice

14. USE OF ENGLISH, PART 4.
PASSIVES AND CAUSATIVE
1. Our dog loves it whrn you take him for a walk.
TAKEN
Our dog ………………………….…………………………………………….LOVES TO BE TAKEN
for a walk
2. I was thrilled that they chose me to play the part.
TO
I was thilled …………………………………………………………………TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN
play the part
3. People knew she was an expert.
KNOWN
She………………………………………………………………………WAS KNOWN TO HAVE
an expert.
BEEN

15. USE OF ENGLISH, PART 4.
PASSIVES AND CAUSATIVE
3. People say that the castle is over eight hundred years old.
SAID
The castle….………………………….…………….IS SAID TO BE
over eight hundred years old.
4. My friend gets a manicurist to paint her nails for her.
HAS
My friend………………………………………………………………………HAS HER NAILS PAINTED
by a manicurist.
5. Our house needed painting urgently last year.
MUST
MUST HAVE HAD/GOT OUR
We…………………………………………………………………………painted last year.
HOUSE

16. PPAASSSSIIVVEE AANNDD CCAAUUSSAATTIIVVEE
WWRRIITTIINNGG PPAARRTT 44--SSEENNTTEENNCCEE TTRRAANNSSFFOORRMMAATTIIOONN
HHAANNDDOOUUTT,, EEXX..
11
1. They will finish the new block of flats next year.
FINISHED
WILL BE FINISHED
The new block of flats………………………………………………..,..…next year.
2. Thieves broke into the Smith’s house while they were sleeping.
BROKEN
WAS BROKEN INTO
The Smith’s house……………………………………………………..while they were
sleeping.
3. The garage is repairing their car at the moment.
REPAIRED
IS BEING REPAIRED
Their car ……………………………………………………….at the moment.

17. PPAASSSSIIVVEE AANNDD CCAAUUSSAATTIIVVEE
WWRRIITTIINNGG PPAARRTT 55--SSEENNTTEENNCCEE TTRRAANNSSFFOORRMMAATTIIOONN
4. A group of students started a campaign for cleaner air.
STARTED
WAS STARTED
A new campaign for cleaner air……………………………………………….
5. Someone has taken the keys from the table.
BEEN
HAVE BEEN TAKEN
The keys ………………………………………………………..from the table.
6. My mother broke my glasses while she was cleaning the house.
BROKEN
My glasses ………………………………………………………my mother while she
was cleaning
WERE BROKEN BY
7. The police have caught the robbers of the shop.
BEEN
HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BY
The robbers…………………………………………………..the police

18. TTHHEE CCAAUUSSAATTIIVVEE
mmoorree pprraaccttiiccee
Rewrite the sentences using the causative form.
Subject+ HAVE+ object+ Past Participle
1. They clean my restaurant everyday.
I HAVE/GET MY RESTAURANT CLEANED everyday
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. My father has just repaired his car.
MY FATHER HAS JUST HAD HIS CAR REPAIRED
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. Tom is mending his shoes tomorrow
TOM IS HAVING/GETTING HIS SHOES MENDED tomorrow
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

19. TTHHEE CCAAUUSSAATTIIVVEE
mmoorree pprraaccttiiccee
4. My neighbour is going to paint the fence of his house green
MY NEIGHBOUR IS GOING TO HAVE THE FENCE
PAINTED…..
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. I made a cake for my brother’s birthday.
I HAD A CAKE MADE for my brother’s birthday
…………………………………………………………………………………………..…
6. My father never checks his eyesight.
MY FATHER NEVER HAS HIS EYESIGHT CHECKED
……………………………………………………………………………………………..