English Passive Voice & Causative Structures Explained

Mastering Passive Voice Constructions

Passive Voice Transformations: Exercise 1

1. In my opinion, it will be found.
2. At the moment, it is being carried.
3. Nothing has been done.
4. When I was being shown...
5. Most of it must have been presented.
6. We had been switched.

Examples of Passive Voice Sentences

1. A new gene that controls hair growth has been discovered.
2. Their new album was released last weekend.
3. Music is being taught to the younger students.
4. His neck could have been broken on that trampoline.
5. The newspapers are all going to be recycled.

Reporting Verbs in Passive Voice

Reporting verbs can be used in two different ways in the passive voice:

1. Global Warming Example

   • a) It is said that global warming is getting worse.
   • b) Global warming is said to be getting worse.

2. Medical Skills Example

   • a) It is said that doctors have improved their operating skills in recent years.
   • b) Operating skills are said to have improved in recent years.

3. Flu Epidemic Example

   • a) It is said that a great flu epidemic is predicted.
   • b) A great flu epidemic is said to be predicted.

Passive Voice with Two Objects

1. Giving Money to Charities

   Original: People are giving...

   • a) Lots of money is being given to charities to fight epidemics in Africa.
   • b) Charities are being given lots of money to fight epidemics in Africa.

2. Telling the Truth

   Original: The teacher...

   • a) The truth should have been told to the students.
   • b) The students should have been told the truth.

Further Examples of Passive Reporting Structures

1. Meningitis Cases

   Original: A scientific report...

   • a) It has been reported that the number of cases of meningitis is rising.
   • b) The number of cases of meningitis has been reported to be rising.

2. Importance of Science

   Original: Many people...

   • a) It is thought that science is more important than arts and literature.
   • b) Science is thought to be more important than arts and literature.

3. Human Genome Project

   Original: Some said...

   • a) It was said that mapping the human genome was impossible.
   • b) Mapping the human genome was said to be impossible.

Causative Verbs: Have/Get Something Done

These structures are used when someone else performs an action for you.

Causative Verb Examples: Have/Get

1. Original: Somebody cut Robert's hair.

   Robert had his hair cut yesterday.

2. Original: Somebody has fixed William's bike.

   William has already had his bike fixed.

3. Original: Some people painted Amy's bathroom.

   Amy has had her bathroom painted.

4. Original: A doctor will check Jo's eye.

   Jo is going to have her eye checked tomorrow.

5. Original: Will somebody wash Brian's car later?

   Will Brian have his car washed later?

Causative Verb Practice Questions

1. Where did you have your hair restyled?

2. Original: The optician tested my eyesight.

   I have just got my eyesight tested.

3. Will you have the tiles on the roof of your garage fixed?
4. Amy wants to get her kitchen painted.

5. Original: Gardens...

   Our neighbors are having their lawn replanted.