12 The passive and the causative12.3
12.3A
Study:
[*+]Form and use of the causative
Form of the causative: 'have something done' [> LEG 12.10-11]
1 Note the difference between these two sentences:
I had built a house, (past perfect tense = 'I did it myself [> 9.6A])
I had a house built, (the causative = 'I arranged for it to be done' [> 12.3B])2 We form the causative with have + noun or pronoun object + past participle.
We use the causative in different tenses and with modals:
I am having a house built. I had a house built. I have had a house built.
I will have a house built. I must have a house built. I can't have a house built, etc.Write: Complete these sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.1 They've just had their living room (decorate)
2 Your car engine sounds dreadful. You ought to have it (look at)
3 Have you had your eyes recently? (test)
4 He's going to have his hair at the weekend, (cut)
5 Can I have this letter , please? (photocopy)
6 This letter is so important, I'm going to have it by a lawyer, (write)12.3B The causative compared with the active and passive [> LEG 12.12]
Study:
[*+]Write 1 : Supply the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.
(^1) What are you doing? - I 'Ы.&ШШЩ.. the car. (clean)
2 Where's your car? - It at the moment. I'll collect it in an hour, (clean)
3 I never find time to clean the car myself, so I (clean)
4 Did you decorate the room yourselves? - No, we (decorate)
5 We can't use the living room. It at the moment, (decorate)
6 You They look quite worn, (must/repair your shoes)
7 My shoes It was an expensive job! (just repair)
8 The heel came off my shoe and I it myself, (repair)
9 'I'd like this film ' I said. 'Certainly,' the assistant said, (develop and print)
10 'Can I use the photocopier this document?' I asked, (photocopy)
11 Who the children's clothes, in this house? - Who do you think? I do! (mend)
12 What's happened to my report? - It at the moment, (photocopy)
1 We use the active to describe jobs we do ourselves or when we know who's doing a job:
I'm servicing the car. Jack is servicing the car.
2 We use the passive to say that a job is being done for us, but we don't know or don't want
to say who is doing it:
The car is being serviced. (We're focusing on the car [> 12.2A])
3 We use the causative to stress the fact that we are 'causing' someone to do a job for us:
I'm having the car serviced. I have had my car serviced. I'm going to have my hair cut.
Not l'm going to cut my hair which means 'I'm going to cut it myself, [compare > 16.2B]
We often use the causative with verbs that have to do with services: e.g.
build, clean, decorate, develop (a film), mend, photocopy, press, print, repair, service.