THE PASSIVE CAUSATIVE

 

We use causative structures in English when we want to talk about something that another person does for us, for example, I had/got my car fixed. These are sentences in which the subject makes someone else do something for him/her, either because he/she pays him/her, asks him/her, convinces him/her or forces him/her. The most important causative structure is to have/get something done, which is also a way of expressing the passive voice.

Pasiva: the car was fixed by the mechanic. (El coche fue reparado por el mecánico).
Causativa: he had the mechanic fix his car. (Encargó al mecánico que le reparara el coche).
Pasiva causativa: he had his car fixed by the mechanic. (Encargó que el coche fuera reparado por el mecánico).

 

EXAMPLE:

A John le pintaron la casa el verano pasado. · ¿Quién pintó la casa? - Alguien a quien se lo encargó John. John had his house painted last summer. Last week I got my car fixed. I have to get my boiler fixed. I'll get my hair cut tomorrow Where do you get your nails done?