The causative

Dan Isit B-A-N-A-N-N-A or B-A-N-A-N-A. No, B, no, A-N-A. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you back.

Hi guys. Dan for BBC Learning English here.

In this lesson we’re going to cover the causative, which will have been explained to you in 90 seconds or less, I hope. Are you ready? Here we go.

So, check it out. This is my favourite bag in the whole wide world. I bought it in Japan about eight years ago. I desperately needed a bag, and at the time I found this in a local shop for the very low price of 500 Yen, which is next to nothing, basically. It’s my favourite thing in the world, but because it’s eaight years old it’s got some signs of wear and tear. Can you see, here? And here, mostly.

Now, I’m a pretty fantastic person, because my mum calls me every morning and says: “Dan, you’re fantastic.” But fixing a bag is not something that I can do by myself and so going to have to take it to a shop and have it repaired . Observe.

I need to have my bag repaired. This means I’m going to pay somebody to do this for me.

This is called the causative. The formula is: have + object + past participle . I need to have my bag repaired.

What’s really cool about the causative is that you can use it in negatives and questions and you can use it in any tense as long as you change the ‘have’ verb. Remember that. Let me show you some examples:

• I’ve had my house decorated. Present perfect.
• Will you have the car fixed? Future simple.
• They aren’t having their pay reduced . Present continuous.

Pretty cool, right? Did you get it? I’m sure you got it. But in case you didn’t, log on to bbcleanringenglish.com… (BEEP) Hah! Log on to bbclearningnenglish.com for more information and a transcript of everything that I’ve just said.

I’ve been Dan, you’ve been fantastic. I’ve got to get to the shop and have my bag repaired.