JAS 2 Language Seminar 2

Lesson 4 Passive and Causative

Renta Marosi
Passive sentences often indicate that what happens is more important than the performer of the
action.
We also use passive sentences when we want to avoid responsibility.
Active: Simon has painted the house. I am sorry that I mislaid your letter.
Passive: The house has been painted. I am sorry that you letter was mislaid.

Present Noun/pronoun + is/are + past participle

Simple The cars are taken abroad.
Present Noun/pronoun + is/are being + past participle
continuous The cars are being repaired at the moment.
Past Noun/pronoun + was/were + past participle
Simple The cars were taken abroad.
Past Noun/pronoun + was/were being + past participle
Continuous The cars were being repaired at that time.
Present Noun/pronoun + have been/has been + past participle
perfect The cars have been taken abroad.
Past Noun/pronoun + had been + past participle
Perfect The cars had been repaired.
Future Noun/pronoun + will be + past participle
The cars will be repaired tomorrow.

!!! The passive is not used in present perfect continuous, the past perfect continuous or the
future continuous for reasons of style.
We can use by + the performer of the action after a verb in the passive if we want to say
who or what did it. E.g.: The play was written by an unknown author.
We use by + agent after the passive form of these verbs: build, compose, damage, design,
discover, invent, make, write.

1. Underline all the passives.

Acid rain is caused by burning coal or oil. When either fuel is burned, it releases poisonous gases
which are carried up into the atmosphere and sometimes transported long distances.
Over 3000 research projects have been carried out to look into acid rain, and a decision to tackle the
problem has been taken in most of the western European countries. Measures have been taken in
Scandinavia and in Central Europe to stop the pollution before it is dumped on the environment, and a
diplomatic campaign has been launched to convince other countries that the problem has to be
considered as a major ecological threat.
Five years ago this issue was not being treated seriously, says one leading environmental group, but
now that damage has been reported in large areas of forest and lakeland, our politicians are being
forced to take action. This problem must be solved quickly: if environments do nothing, they will be
faced in two or three years time with the accusation that they have allowed our forests to die. A major
international initiative to combat acid rain is expected in the near future.
 JAS 2 Language Seminar 2
Lesson 4 Passive and Causative
Renta Marosi

Put the underlined words into the passive and make any other changes where necessary. Use by
+ agent where appropriate.
 JAS 2 Language Seminar 2
Lesson 4 Passive and Causative
Renta Marosi

The causative have and get

Use: to describe an action which I (or you, he, she.) arrange but do not do myself.
E.g.: I had my suit cleaned last week.
Note the word order: The object goes before the past participle there is a difference between:
He had his car cleaned AND He had cleaned his car.
The causative have and the causative get are very similar and often interchangeable. However,
the causative get is more concerned with the arranging that is required in order for something
to be done:
I had the car serviced this morning (I caused this to happen but I may or may not have taken
the car to the garage myself).
I got the car serviced this morning (There is an assumption that I took the car to the garage).
Rewrite the sentences using have + object + past participle and changing some words if
necessary.

1.
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 JAS 2 Language Seminar 2
Lesson 4 Passive and Causative
Renta Marosi
4.
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Homework
1. a

b.
 JAS 2 Language Seminar 2
Lesson 4 Passive and Causative
Renta Marosi
2. Put the words in brackets into the correct tense and form. Some of the verbs should be in
the passive and some in the active. Write the answers in the spaces provided below the
text.

3.