Teacher's Resource Book
The passive (3)
Have or get something done
This construction (Subject + have / get +
object + past participle) is passive in
meaning.
 It may describe situations where we
want someone else to do something for
us. Examples:
- When are you going to get that window
mended?
- We're having the house painted.
 When the verb refers to something
negative or unwanted, it has the same
meaning as a passive sentence:
- Jim had his car stolen last night. (= Jim's
car was stolen)
1. Use the words in brackets to complete these
sentences. Use the structure “to have
something done”.
- We _____________________ (our hours / paint)
next summer.
- I have lost my keys. I’ll have to
____________________ (another key / make).
- Your hair is a mess. You should
________________________ (your hair / cut).
- The floor is very dirty. Why don’t you
________________________ (it / clean)?
- My father’s car is not working very well. He
______________________(it / service) tomorrow.
- Many young people today
_______________________ (their nose / pierce).
- She has got a bad toothache. She
_____________________ (it / remove) in a week.
- Summers are very hot in Spain. Many people
__________________________ (swimming pools
/ build) in their gardens.
- My office needs a change. I
___________________________ (it / redecorate)
in the spring.
- I ____________________________________
(my house / clean) once a week.
- They __________________________________
(their computers / repair) today.
2. Finish the following sentences in a
meaningful way, making use of the causative
form “to have something done”.
- We got tired of the old wallpaper so
(decorate)_______________________________
- Our car had a serious breakdown
(repair)___________________________________.
- So you have a toothache, I think
(see)______________________________________.
- Peter went to the mechanic and
(service)___________________________________.
- Are those shelves new? When did you
(do)______________________________________?
- Susan is at the optician's
(test)______________________________________
3. Write a suitable reply to the following
sentences using the causative voice.
- My motorbike is making very strange noises.
- I think______________________________ (repair)
- What's that noise?
- My neighbours________________________ (floor-
change)
- How is your back?
- Pretty well, I______________________ (massage)
- Your dog looks beautiful!
- Oh, yes! I like__________________________
(wash)
- What about your son's teeth?
- Not bad, he is_________________________ (see)
- Your trousers are too long.
- Yes, _____________________________ (shorten)
4. Put the following sentences into the passive
mode or add the most suitable causative.
- Once they asked me to introduce my closest friend
to my oldest friend.
- Once ____________________________________
- They have a special firm which delivers quality wine
for their restaurant.
- They _____________________________________
- People believe that whales can talk to each other.
- Whales___________________________________
- An American company employed him since he left
school.
- He_______________________________________
- A group of workers were filling the holes in the
pavement under the sun.
- The holes_________________________________
- Can we paint these walls with plastic paint ?
- Can these walls__________________________
- I am writing all those letters to send them tomorrow.
- All those letters__________________________