Causative ESL Worksheet

ESL Worksheet
Answer Sheet

ESL Worksheet

Answer Sheet

To access this worksheet as an online activity, view our 'Causative' exercise.

ESL Worksheet: Causative

Instructions: Choose the correct answer.

Q1 - I had my hair cut last week

The speaker did not cut his own hair

The speaker cut his own hair

Q2 - They had their car stolen a fortnight ago

The causative is used to show misfortune

The causative is used because they arranged it

Q3 - He had the decorators repaint the bedroom ceiling

He worked together with the decorators

He told them what to do and they did it

Q4 - I'll get Claire to talk to him

This sentence means the same as 'I'll have Claire talk to him.'

This sentence means that something unfortunate is going to happen

Q5 - I'd get somebody in to do it if I could afford it

The speaker will do it herself because she hasn't got enough money

It is not clear if she will do it herself or if it won't be done

Q6 - I must get it fixed

The speaker has made the decision

Somebody has given the speaker instructions

Q7 - I have to have my hair cut

The speaker has made the decision

Somebody has given the speaker instructions

Q8 - She had her dog vaccinated

She gave the dog the medicine

The vet or someone else gave the dog the medicine

Q9 - He had a phone put in the day he moved in

This is a formal way of using the past perfect

An engineer put the phone in for him on his instructions

Q10 - Can you get it fixed for me, please?

This is a polite way of asking the other person to fix it

The speaker wants the other person to arrange for it to be fixed

Q11 - He had his car stolen

He arranged for some car thieves to steal it

Here the causative is used to show that something unfortunate happened

Q12 - He had his flat burgled a few days ago

He was responsible for the action being done

Here the causative is used to show that something unfortunate happened

Q13 - I'm going to get my car serviced this afternoon

He will be responsible for the action being done, but will not actually do it himself

Here the causative is used to show that something unfortunate is going to happen

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