Causative Passive Structures Quiz

Study Notes

Structure of Causative Passive

The causative passive expresses an action performed on someone or something by another.
It's formed using the verb "have," "get," or "make" followed by an object and a past participle.

Forming the Causative Passive

Structure 1: Have + object + past participle
- This structure emphasizes the result or the completion of the action.
- Example: I had my car repaired. (The car was repaired for me.)
- Example: They had their house painted last week. (Their house was painted last week.)
Structure 2: Get + object + past participle
- This structure emphasizes the action itself rather than the result, implying some degree of difficulty or necessity for the action.
- Example: I got my hair cut yesterday. (I had my hair cut yesterday.)
- Example: She got her computer fixed. (Her computer was fixed.)
Structure 3: Make + object + past participle
- This structure implies the action is done on the object by someone else under instructions or compulsion.
- Example: The teacher made the students write a poem. (The students were made to write a poem.)
- Example: We made our friend clean the kitchen. (Our friend was made to clean the kitchen.)

Key Differences Between "Have," "Get," and "Make" in Causative Passive

Have: Indicates a formal and usually pleasant action, often a professional service.
Get: Often implies some difficulty involved in the action, although less formal than "have."
Make: Implies the action is done under compulsion or instruction.

Common Usage Examples

Having something done: Having an appointment made, a meal cooked, a car fixed.
Getting something done: Getting a project finished, an essay written, a problem solved.
Making someone do something: Making a child behave, a student study, an employee work.

Passive form of "have" + object + past participle

Example: I had my car serviced.
Meaning: The service was done to my car.
Focus: The car was serviced.

Passive form of "get" + object + past participle

Example: My phone got repaired.
Meaning: My phone had repairs done.
Focus: The repairing happened to my phone.

Passive form of "make" + object + past participle

Example: They made me wait outside.
Meaning: I was made to wait outside.
Focus: The waiting action was imposed on me.

Tense Variation in Causative Passive

The tense of the main verb ("have," "get," or "make") dictates the tense of the passive sentence.
Examples:
- Present: I have my car washed. (The car is washed now.)
- Past: I had my hair cut yesterday. (The hair was cut yesterday.)
- Future: I will have my shoes polished tomorrow. (The shoes will be polished.)

Common Mistakes

Incorrect use of tenses
Incorrect case/usage

Key Concepts

The causative passive emphasizes the action being done on something or someone.
The agent (the person who is doing the action) is often implied or omitted.
"Have" is often used in the past tense for the causative form of the verb.
The selection of "have," "get," or "make" slightly alters the subtle meaning.

Additional Notes

The causative passive is commonly used in everyday English.
Understanding the nuances of "have," "get," and "make" in causative passive sentences can improve clarity in communication.

Description

Test your understanding of the causative passive structures in English. This quiz will challenge you to identify and apply the formations using 'have,' 'get,' and 'make' followed by an object and a past participle. You'll encounter various examples to reinforce your knowledge of this important grammatical structure.