Causative constructions

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 725.

DCompare these sentences:

Alice saw that with her own eyes – or soshe would have us believe.

Alice saw that with her own eyes – or so she wanted us to believe.

We can usehave +personal object + bare infinitive to show that one person is causing another to do something: We had Mr Sounders (personal object) paint (bare infinitive) our kitchen. We should not confuse this construction with the true causative form with an impersonal object: We had our kitchen (impersonal object) painted (past participle) white.

Rewrite these sentences using the correct forms of have.

EWhat's the difference between:

It was a bloody struggle: one duelisthad his arm cut to shreds...

It was a bloody struggle: one duelisthad cut his arm to shreds...

The use of the causative in the first sentence suggests you've experienced something; it was beyond your control. The past perfect in the second sentence points to an earlier action.

Supply the correct forms with had in these sentences.

1. I couldn't understand the problem until the teacher (explain it)........again.
2. You should understand the problem now. You (explain it)..........to you yesterday.
3. John has to drive carefully now. He (endorse his licence)...........twice last week.
4. John couldn't drive because the police (endorse his licence)..........three times.
5. Harry couldn't afford any luxuries, because his landlord (increase his rent)......... .
6. Harry couldn't afford any luxuries, because he had (increase his rent)..............
7. I recently (steal my car).............when I parked it in the street.
8. As I was walking to the station, two youths drove past me and I noticed with dismay that they (steal my car).................
9. I wasn't comfortable until the dentist (extract the painful tooth)..............
10. I wasn't comfortable until had (extract the painful tooth)..................

F What's the difference in meaning between the phrases in bold italics?

Darwin speculated that some birds might have this ability, but it's amazingto have proved it.

Darwin speculated that some birds might have this ability, but it's amazingto have it proved it.

We use the passive in the first sentence to show that we may not know or may not need to name who is doing an action. The causative (have + object + past participle) in the second sentence is used to stress the fact that we're "causing" someone else to perform a service for us: We've had these photographs taken by a professional photographer.

Supply the right forms of the verbs in brackets using suitable forms of have where necessary.

1. They claim that they (test it).............by experts.
2. I was curious about this new car and I was invited (test it)............ myself.
3. If you want to get a job done properly, it's best (do it)............yourself.
4. We couldn't possibly tackle this job ourselves, so we (do it)..............by a local firm.
5. She shows such talent for swimming that her father (train her)............ by professionals.
6. Surely you (explain the process)...............to you before?
7. I don't think you've quite understood. I'll just (explain the process)...........to you again.

Theme three: Survival and Endurance.