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Unit 02
Passive Voice (Advanced)
causative, reporting & get-passive
Beyond the Basic Passive
At B2 level, the passive becomes a tool for sounding natural and fluent. This unit covers three advanced uses: causatives (have/get something done), reporting passives (It is said that...), and the informal get-passive.
Causative — Have / Get Something Done
Used when we arrange for someone else to do something for us. The focus is on the action, not the doer.
- We had our house painted last month.
- She got her nails done at a salon.
- I'll have my computer fixed tomorrow.
- ⚠ Can also express unfortunate events: He had his wallet stolen.
| Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| have + object + past participle | I had my hair cut. | Someone cut my hair (neutral/formal). |
| get + object + past participle | I got my car repaired. | Someone repaired my car (informal). |
Reporting Passive — "It is said that..."
Used to report general beliefs, opinions, or rumours — common in news, academic, and formal writing. Common verbs: say, think, believe, report, expect, know, consider.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| It + be + past participle + that-clause | It is said that he lives in Istanbul. |
| It is believed that prices will rise. | |
| It was reported that the team had won. |
Reporting Passive — "He is said to..."
A more elegant alternative: the subject moves to the front, followed by be + past participle + to-infinitive.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Subject + be + pp + to + verb | He is said to be very rich. |
| Past event → to have + pp | She is believed to have left the country. |
| They are expected to arrive soon. |
The Get-Passive
A more informal and dynamic alternative to "be + past participle", common in spoken English and for unexpected or accidental events.
| Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| get + past participle | He got hurt in the game. | = He was hurt. |
| My phone got stolen. | = My phone was stolen. | |
| She got promoted. | = She was promoted. |
Passive in Complex Structures
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Modal + passive | The forms must be checked before use. |
| Perfect passive | The report has been completed. |
| Continuous passive | The road is being repaired. |
| Passive infinitive | The system is easy to be used / to use. |
Active Causatives & Need + -ing
| Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| have + person + base verb | I'll have the technician check it. | arrange for someone to do it |
| get + person + to + verb | I got my brother to help me. | persuade someone |
| make + person + base verb | She made me wait an hour. | force |
| need + -ing (passive meaning) | The car needs washing. = needs to be washed. | something must be done to it |
| prepositional verbs keep the preposition | The children were looked after by their aunt. | don't drop "after", "of", "at"... |
Annotated Examples
Subject
Verb
Auxiliary
Object
Adjective
Adverb
Preposition
Hover over any word to see its role.
subjectIauxiliaryhadobjectmy carverbrepairedadverbyesterday.
↳ Causative — someone else repaired it for me.
subjectHeverbis believedverbto have leftobjectthe country.
↳ Reporting passive — past event → to have + pp.
subjectSheauxiliarygotverbpromotedadverblast month.
↳ Get-passive — informal, dynamic tone.
Common Mistakes
I had my car fix.
→
I had my car fixed.
Causative needs the past participle: fixed.
He is said that he left.
→
It is said that he left.
Use "It is said that..." with a that-clause.
She got marry last year.
→
She got married last year.
Get-passive needs the past participle: married.
It is believed he to be rich.
→
He is believed to be rich.
Re-order: subject + be + pp + to + verb.
He had his wallet stole.
→
He had his wallet stolen.
Causative needs the past participle: stolen.
The baby was looked by her grandmother.
→
The baby was looked after by her grandmother.
Keep the preposition in the passive.
My shoes need to clean.
→
My shoes need cleaning. / need to be cleaned.
need + -ing has a passive meaning.