Page 184 - Real English 2024 Book 8

REAL ENGLISH 8

These sentences mean that someone caused some action to be performed rather than doing
it himself/herself. Have and get in this usage are called causative verbs. The grammatical
structure of a sentence with a causative verb will be this:

subject + appropriate form of + object + past participle of + other parts
have/get the verb describing of the
(as any other main verb) the action sentence

Causative verbs shift the focus from the doer of the action to the person who causes the action
to be done, and to the action itself.
1. The sergeant got the journalist captured = The sergeant ordered his men to capture
the journalist. + His men captured the journalist.

2. Nilesh had his car repaired yesterday = Nilesh took his car to the mechanic
yesterday. + The mechanic repaired it.

In the examples above the important pieces of information are:
1. a) The sergeant wanted to capture the journalist.
b) The journalist was captured.

2. a) Nilesh wanted his car repaired.
b) His car got repaired.
To the listener or reader of sentences 1 and 2, these pieces of information are irrelevant,
obvious or uninteresting:

1. It was the men who worked on behalf of the sergeant who captured the journalist.
2. It was the mechanic who repaired Nilesh’s car.
Causative have and get can be used interchangeably. The differences between them are:

1. Have is more formal than get.
2. Get is more common in orders, requests and suggestions.

D3 Rewrite the following sentences using have or get.
1. The electrician changed the socket in Nafisa’s kitchen.

2. The hairdresser cut my hair in a new style.
3. My trousers are being dry-cleaned.

4. The teacher cancelled the class as ordered by the principal.
5. The shopkeeper recharges the taxi driver’s mobile phone every day.

D4 Write sentences using causative have or get based on the clues below.
1. dentist – take out teeth
2. mason – build a wall

3. police chief – arrest the corrupt minister

4. captain – replace the goalkeeper
5. the company – open new office

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