PASSIVES AND CAUSATIVES

S + to be + V3/ed
The passive
USES EXAMPLES
When we don’t know who does/did sth The car was stolen at approximately 1.30pm.

When it’s obvious who does/did sth Having been introduced in 1988, the Road Traffic Act
regulates all vehicle use on UK roads.

When it’s not important who does/did sth The XL500 was designed during the Second World
War by the Americans.

To emphasize new information (which This type of submarine was developed during the
appears at the end of the sentence) Second World War by the Americans.

To avoid starting clauses with long We were surprised by the number of people trying to
expressions leave the city for the long weekend. (More natural than
‘The number of people trying to leave the city for the
long weekend surprised us.)

All passengers are required to present their ticket to

To produce a formal style the inspector.

S + V + O, S +V + O

Impersonal passive
USES EXAMPLES
Predictions based on present Look at that wall. It looks as if it’s going to fall down.
evidence
Intentions I’m going to get my degree, then get a well-paid job.

Present Continuous
Form Common verbs Example
noun + verb in passive form agree, assume, believe, claim, Tourism is expected to become
+ infinitive / perfect consider, estimate, expect, feel, find, a major part of the country’s
infinitive guarantee, know, mean, presume, economy.
regard, report, say, suppose, think,
There + verb in passive form understand There are reported to have
+ infinitive / perfect been a record number of
infinitive accidents on the roads this year.

accept, agree, argue, assume, believe, It is thought that the new

It + verb in passive form + calculate, claim, consider, estimate, railway will provide employment
that clause expect, feel, know, presume, report, opportunities for local people.
 say, suggest, suppose, think,
understand

Direct and indirect object

Some verbs in active sentences can be followed by both a direct and indirect object (usually a person).
Common verbs include: bring, buy, get, give, leave, lend, make, offer, owe, pass, pay, promise, refuse, send,
show, take, teach, tell, write, etc. There are two possible passive forms.
Active sentence: Michael gave the plane tickets to Jill.
With indirect object as subject of passive verb Jill was given the plane tickets (by Michael).
With direct object as subject of passive verb The plane tickets were given to Jill (by Michael).

WATCH OUT!
• In the second structure in the table above, we sometimes omit the preposition before indirect
object pronouns.
 Sharon’s Roll-Royce was left (to) her by her grandfather.
• With the verbs explain and suggest, the preposition before indirect object pronouns cannot be
omitted. They cannot be used with the first structure in the table above.
 I was explained how to drive the train.
 How to drive the train was explained me.
 How to drive the train was explained to me.

Avoiding the passive

The passive is not normally used with the verbs in the present perfect continuous, past perfect
continuous, future continuous or future perfect continuous. Various prepositional phrases are used to
avoid the passive in these tenses, including the following.
in progress  Preparations for the flight will be being made as the President arrives at the
airport.
 Preparations for the flight will be in progress as the President arrives at the
airport.

in training  At the end of this year, I will have been being trained as a pilot for 4 years.
 At the end of this year, I will have been in training as a pilot for 4 years.

on display  Vintage cars have been being displayed in the town centre all this week.
 Vintage cars have been on display in the town centre all this week.

under consideration  By the time they came to a decision, the problem had been being
considered for some time.
 By the time they came to a decision, the problem had been under
consideration for some time.

under construction  By the new railway station has been being built for 2 years now.
The new railway station has been under construction 2 years now.
WATCH OUT!
• Some verbs are not usually in the passive. The include intransitive verbs such as appear, arrive,
die, etc.
• Many verbs used statively are also not usually used in the passive. They include consist, deserve,
fit, have, lack, look, mind, realise, resemble, seem, suit, etc.
• The verb let is not used in the passive when it means ‘allow’, although phrasal verbs with let can
be used in the passive.
 Alice was clearly guilty, but she was let off with a warning.
• Some verbs can be followed by the bare infinitive (without to) in active sentences. They are
followed by the full infinitive in passive sentences. These verbs include hear, help, make and see.
 We heard Jim say he was going to Albania. (active)
 Jim was heard to say he was going to Albania. (passive)

have/get sth V3
Causative: get/have sth done I had my hair cut by her
I got my computer repaired by him
USES EXAMPLES
Actions we arrange for other people to do for us Did you finally get your bike fixed?
Things we experience (usually negative and not I heard that Susie had her motorbike
intended) stolen.

WATCH OUT!
• In general, get is more informal than have in causative structures.
• We can use other verbs instead of get and have with a causative meaning. They include need,
want and would like.
 I’d like those cars washed by this evening, please.
• The structure get sth done can also mean ‘finish doing something’.
 We’ll set off as soon as I’ve got the car fixed.

get sb to do sth
Causative: get sb to do / have sb do have sb do sth
USES EXAMPLES
Actions we make somebody/something do for us Did you get Alex to drive you all the way to
London?
have sth/sb doing sth

Causative: get / have sb doing That man had everyone laughing.

USES EXAMPLES
Actions we make somebody/something start Don’t worry. We’ll soon have your car running like
doing new.
WATCH OUT!
• Most of the time, we do not show who does/did an action (the ‘agent’) in a passive or causative
sentence. When we do want to refer to the agent, we use by.
 We should get the car looked at by a professional.
• When we want to refer to materials or instruments used in a passive or causative sentence, we
use with.
 The engine is started with a special electronic card instead of the key.
• We use other prepositions after some past participles that are used like adjectives.
 I am frightened of driving on motorways.  My car is covered in dirt.
has been
S + to be + V3/ed
A. If the verb in bold is correct, put a tick. If it is incorrect, rewrite it correctly.

1
Could you tell me where your passport was been issued? was issued
...................................
2
When the winning actor was finnaly announced, a big cheer went up. ...................................
-
3 been confirmed
Has your business trip to Calcutta next week confirmed by the Indian office? ...................................
4
Everyone who was been invited to the wedding came. was invited
...................................
5
The wire coat hanger invented in 1903 by a Mr Parkhouse. was invented
...................................
6
The issue has discussed in Parliament yesterday, but no decisions were taken .................................
has been discussed
-
7
By the time we get there, the problem should have been sorted out. ...................................
8
Britain was be invaded by the Romans under Emperor Caudius in 43 AD. was invaded
...................................
-
9
The party had been planned months in advance, but we still had problems. ...................................
10
After be treated, I was allowed to leave the hospital. being
...................................
11
We boarded the ship and were showing to our cabin by a steward. were shown
...................................
12
The new supermarket is to be opened by an actor from a soap opera. -
...................................
be to do
B. Write a verb from the box in the corerct passive form in each gap.

allow  ask  find  give  know  light  make  meet  show 

write
1 The stolen items …………………………….
were found in the attic of an empty house last week.
2 to be shown
When the open-air cinema opens, the first film …………………………… will be Vertigo.
3 were asked
Questions …………………………… in Parliament about the Minister’s business interests.
4 being given
We’re looking forward to …………………………… a guided tour of the whole factory.
5 were written
Just imagine that when these words …………………………… , Europeans had not yet discovered
America.
6 is lit / has been lit we’ll be able to start cooking.
Once the barbecue ……………………………,
7 Before ……………………………
being allowed to see the invention, I had to agree not to tell anyone.
8 I would really like ……………………………
to be met at the airport, if that’s possible.
9 was made
It …………………………… very clear to us that we weren’t welcome.
10 to be known
Gareth says he’s always wanted …………………………… as someone with a good sense of humour.

C. Circle the correct word or phrase.

1 Global warming is thought to be caused / is caused by pollution.

2 There are to be estimated / are estimated to be about 5,400 different species of mammals.
 3 It is to be reported / has been reported that gunshots have been heard in the city centre.
4 The escaped prisoner is believed to use / to have used a rope to climb the wall.
5 It is to be calculated / is calculated that about 60% of a man’s body mass is water.
6 Over 200 people are being understood / are understood to have been injured in the
explosion.
7 It is considered impolite in some cultures to be eaten / to eat with your left hand.
8 There mean / were meant to have been 60 crates of olives in the order, not 600!
9 It / There has been suggested that people who don’t recycle should pay more tax.
10 Your order is guaranteed will be delivered / to be delivered withing three working days.

D. Each sentence contains one verb in the wrong form. Underline the incorrect word or phrase
and rewrite it correctly.

Heathrow
1 Heathrow Airport, near London, has called the world’s busiest international airport and the
68 million passengers who are processed each year would probably
agree. ……………………………….
has been called
2 The land on which the airport stands sodl to Fairey Aviation by the local vicar and was used
for test flights during the 1930s, under the name Great Western
Aerodrome. ……………………………….
was sold
3 In 1944, the airport was handed over to the government and was developed for civilian use,
was named after a small village that was removed to creat space, Heath
Row. …………………………
having been named/being named
4 The first concrete slab of the modern runways was laid by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and
the first terminal building, which has later renamed Terminal 2, was opened two years
was later renamed
later. ……………………………….
5 The London Underground was extended to reach Heathrow in 1977, meaning that
passengers could be transport from central London via the Piccadilly Line in just under an
transported
hour. ……………………………….
6 Four passenger terminals and a cargo terminal have been constructed and permission was
been granted for a fifth passenger terminal in 2001. ……………………………….
was granted
7 It has been suggested that a new airport, which would lead to Heathrow being retired over a
period of 20 years, has been built on a floating island in the Thames, although no firm plans
have been drawn up. ……………………………….
be built

E. Complete the sentences describing each situation using the phrase given.

1 I started training to be an accountant six months ago. I’ve got six more months to go, and then I
have to take exams. (in training)
I will have been in training for 12 months / a year.
By the time I take my exams, .....................................................................................................................................
2 The council have been thinking for some time of redeveloping the city centre. (under
consideration) be under consideration
The redevelopment of the city centre has been under consideration (by the council) for some time
....................................................................................................................
3 They’ve been having discussions on the issue for over two weeks. (in progress) be in progress
have been in progress for over two weeks.
Discussions on the issue ..............................................................................................................................................
 4 This weekend, the local Art Society will be displaying their latest works at the library. (on
display) be on display
will be on display at the library this weekend.
The local Art Society’s latest works ........................................................................................................................
5 George seems to have been putting his website together for a long time. (under construction)
seems to have been under construction for a long time.
Goerge’s website ............................................................................................................................................................
be constructed = be under construction
F. If the word or phrase in bold is correct, put a tick. If it is incorrect, rewrite it correctly.
Hannah: … and that was that, really. Anyway, what about your new car? Tell me about that.
Alison: /
Oh, what a nightmare! We had to have it repaired twice! (1) ...............................................
Hannah: Oh, no! What happened?
Alison: it delivered
Well, we got delivered it to our house on Monday morning. (2) ..........................................
Hannah: Right.
Alison: We decided to have it check straight away, because it had come all the way from
checked
America. (3) ………………………………………
/
Hannah: Oh, I didn’t know you’d had them do that. (4) …………………………………
Alison: Yeah. Anyway, we had my dad to have a look at it. And he found that the engine wasn’t
running properly (5)…………………………………
got

Hannah: Did you have the company to come to fix it? (6) …………………………………
come
work
Alison: Well, not at first. We got my brother to working on it. (7) …………………………………
it running
Hannah: Oh, he’s very good. I bet he soon had running it smoothly. (8) ..............................................
Alison: Yes, but we still had to get the company come out in the end, because the fuel pump
to come out
stopped working. (9) …………………………………
Hannah: Terrible! You should get them to give you some compensation.
/
(10) …………………………………
Alison: Maybe. Oh, is that the time? Listen, give me a call …

G. Complete each sentence using the noun in bold and an appropriate causative form of the verb
in bold.

1 If you don’t understand,get

……………………………………………….…………..
your teacher to explain / have your teacher explainit to you again after the

lesson. (your teacher / explain)

2 I was a bit depressed, but watching my kitten play with a ball of wool
soon got/had my feeling
………………………………… much better. (me / feel)
get a professional to do
3 Don’t bother redecorating yourself - ………………………………………….………… it. (a professional /
have a professional do
do)
Having our car stolen
4 ………………………………….………….. was so annoying because it meant I had to take the tube to
work. (our car / steal)
5 You won’t learn as much if you ………………………………….…………..
get your parent to help you with your homework all
the time. (your parents / help)
 got/had us all dancing
6 The concert started quietly, but the band soon ………………………………….………….. to their hit
songs. (us all / dance)
to get me to do
7 Tell Gordon yourself! Don’t try ……………………………….………….. your dirty work for you! (me /
do)
getting/having your hair cut
8 Have you thought about ………………………………….………….... as short as mine? (your hair / cut)
9 got
I ………………………………….……..…..
Karen to show / had Karen showme how to juggle with five balls, but I still couldn’t do it.
(Karen / show)
10 Have you heard about the problems caused by students ………………………………….…………..
having their essays written to
companies on the Internet? (their essays / write)

H. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words,
including the word given.
They kept me waiting for over 20 minutes on the phone!
1 They made me wait for over 20 minutes on the phone!. kept
I ………………………………………………………
was kept waiting for over 20 minutes on the phone!.
2 Although people consider Ashley to be a star, she is always friendly towards everyone.
considered
Despite ………………………………………………………,
being considered a star Ashley’s always friendly towards everyone.
3 We have had reports that the Prime Minister is making a surprise visit to Syria. be
has been reported to be making
The prime Minister ……………………………………………………… a surprise visit to Syria.
4 The manager provided the staff with extra training. by
Thestaff were provided with extra trainging bythe manager.
………………………………………………………
5 I think someone needs to explain this computer program to me. explaining explained
I think I need ………………………………………………………
this computer program explained me.
6 They have been building the new stadium for much longer than they orginally estimated.
under
The new stadium ………………………………………………………
has been under construction for much longer than they originally
estimated.
7 Do you know why they made Craig stay behind after the lesson? to
Craig was made to stay
Do you know why ……………………………………………………… behind after the lesson?
8 Call Lionel and ask him to send the reports up to my office. have
have him send
Call Lionel and ………………………………….………….. the reports up to my office.

make sb do sth
sb + be + made to do sth
I. Choose the correct answer.
1 When Nadine arrived, she 2 The government must ………………… strong
soon ………………… at all her jokes. measures against crime.
A. had everyone laughed A. be seen be taking
B. had laughing everyone B. see to be taking
C. had everyone laughing C. seen to take
D. had laughed everyone D. be seen to be taking
3 Mrs Davies asked me to tell you that she
would like ………………… by Friday at latest. 7 Why didn’t you ………………… you when you
A. the orders sent moved house?
B. sending the orders A. have Aaron help
C. that you sent B. have got Aaron help
D. sent the orders C. have Aaron helped
4 Joining a gym …………………, but I didn’t D. get Aaron help
really fancy the idea. 8 Profits ………………… slightly next year,
A. was suggested me although we don’t predict any job losses.
B. to me was suggested A. expect to fall
C. was suggested to me B. are expecting to fall
D. was suggesting me C. are expected falling
5 There ………………… between 4,000 and D. are expected to fall
6,000 languages in the world, depending 9 It’s hard to believe that this
on how you count them. film ………………… completely by computer.
A. say to be A. was been generating
B. are said to be B. has generated
C. are said that C. has been generated
D. said being D. was to generate
6 I spoke to Victor last night and he says 10 As soon as Dad …………………, we can leave.
he ………………… while he was on holiday. A. has the car starting
A. had stolen his phone B. has got the car started
B. got stolen his phone C. got started the car
C. was got his phone stolen D. was got starting the car
D. had his phone stolen

J. Write one word in each gap.

The scramjet
Imagine (1) ……………………… transported aroudn the globe in a matter of hours, rather than the
24 hours which (2) ……………………… currently required to get form London to Sydney. Such is the
promise of the scramjet, a highly experimental type of engine which has been (3) ………………………
development over the past couple of decades. In a conventional jet engine, air (4) ………………………
sucked into the engine at speeds below the speed of sound, where it is mixed (5) ………………………
fuel, ignited, and the exhaust gases provide thrust. In a scramjet, which has to (6) ………………………
taken to supersonic speeds by conventional means before it will operate, the air enters at
supersonic speeds.
It has (7) ……………………… estimated that a scramjet might be capable of travelling at 12-24 times
the speed of sound. However, the technology (8) ……………………… been found to be extremely
difficult to control. Although scientists (9) ……………………… had scramjets perform short flights,
commercial aircraft are still a long way in the future, and indeed may never (10) ………………………
successfully developed.