Causative Passive Structures Quiz

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.