CAUSATIVE GRAMMAR

The causative is used when we pay, make or delegate someone else to do something for us.

FORM = NOUN + HAVE/GET + NOUN + PAST PARTICIPLE (+ BY/WITH + NOUN/SUBJECT)

WHEN YOU WANT SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING:

Examples + Meaning:

I get my hair cut by the barber on Main Street.

The barber on Main Street cuts my hair.

I have my shopping delivered to my house.

The shopping is delivered to my house.

I am going to have the house painted.

I will pay someone to paint my house.

I had my car fixed at the garage.

The mechanic fixed my car at the garage.

*Using get is more informal than have but has exactly the same meaning and is more common in spoken English.

We also use the causative passive to talk about things that unwantingly happen to us.

We normally use: HAVE + OBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE

For instance:

I had my arm broken during the rugby match.

I had my bag stolen last night.

I would hate to have my nose broken.

I never want to have my phone smashed.

The final causative structure we use is related to obligation.

We use GET + SOMEONE + INFINITIVE + SOMETHING

For example:

I got my brother to fix the tap.

I got my friend to help me with the coursework.

It is essential to know how to rephrase the Causative:

Get + something + participle – I am going to get my car fixed.

Get + someone + infinitive + something – I am going to get them to fix my car.

Download exercises in PDF

CAUSATIVE REPHRASING 1