CHAPTER 3.

Teaching impersonal and causative passive structures in EFL classroom

3.1 Exercises aimed at developing impersonal passive structures

The main problem of learning and teaching causative and impersonal passive structures in
EFL classroom is identifying their types and multiple functions which sometimes misleads
the students and confuses them. The errors related to these structures are common in their
written and oral speech. By practicing the following exercises will help students to
successfully cope with some difficulties they have encountered in using causative and
impersonal passive structures.
Along with these exercises we have tried to use some techniques and strategies to
actively engage students into the learning process.
We have explored through the classroom activities what causative and impersonal passive
structures are, focusing on their types and their functions in the sentence and paying
attention to learners’ difficulties. The following set of effective exercises on causative and
impersonal passive structures have been practiced in EFL classroom.
Exercises are of 2 types: receptive and productive.

Task 1: Choose the best answer a), b), c) or d) to complete the sentences.

0 The Postal Service _was sold____ to a private company in 1978.

a) was sold b) sold c) has sold

1 The degree ________________________ to him by his father.

a) will give b) is given c) will be given

2 They ________________________ my plans yet.

3 Passports ________________________ between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

a) can collect b) could collect c) could be collected d) can be

4 I ________________________ by his behaviour!

a) am surprised b) were surprised c) surprise d)

5 The order giving permission ________________________ until too late.

a) wasn’t arrived b) hasn’t been arrived c) didn’t arrive d) hasn’t arrived

6 There ________________________ a mistake. I didn’t do it.

a) must be b) must c) mustn’t be

7 The cinema ________________________ three films every day.

a) was shown b) shows c) showing

8 Forty-five new poster adverts ________________________ by the Bluejuice Company this

a) designed b) have designed c) were designing d)

9 By the time we get back he ________________________.

a) goes b) will go c) will have gone

10 I ________________________ the reports by tomorrow morning.

a) prepare b) will prepare c) will be prepared d) is prepared

11 The company ________________________ the results soon.

a) should know b) should have knownc) should be known d) should have been
known
12 Altogether there are sixteen types of penguin. Only eight types _______________________
on these islands.

a) have been seen b) are seeing c) have seen d) see

Task 2. Change these sentences into impersonal passive (two possibilities)

1. Everybody thinks that she sings beautifully

2. The children reported that their friends were swimming when they disappeared.

3. People believed that they had killed the animals during the night.

4. My friends think that my parents are the best parents in the world.

5. They believed that the horse was a present.

6. People are thinking that drugs are very dangerous.

7. They knew that Mr. Brown was stealing iron from the factory.

8. People consider that the team will be classified for the final.

9. Everybody says that he settled the business.

10. The reporters believed that the meeting would finish soon.

11. They have thought the sportsmen are arriving today.

12. Citizens presume that the government is responsible for the accident.

13. They say that the meeting will be held here

14. The hooligans expected that their team would win

Task 3. Which of these following structures are personal and which impersonal?

1. People know that she is a good swimmer.

It is known that she is a good swimmer.

She is known to be a good swimmer.

2. They say that Francis is in hospital.

It is said that Francis is in hospital.

3. They think that the children are in bed

It is thought that the children are in bed.

Children are thought to be in bed.

4. People believe that the robber has worked in a bank.

It is believed that the robber has worked in a bank.

The robber is believed to have worked in the bank.

5. People believe that the nuclear power stations are dangerous.

It is believed that the nuclear power stations are dangerous.

Nuclear power stations are believed to be dangerous.

6. His collegues thought that he was on holiday.

It was thought that he was on holiday.

He was thought to have been on holiday.

7. People think he is waiting for us now.

It is thought that he is waiting for us now.

He is thought to be waiting for us now.

8. People expect that he will join the company soon.

It is expected that he will join the company soon.

He is expected to join the company soon.

3.2 Exercises aimed at developing causative structures.

Task 1. Rewrite these sentences using have or get.

1. The mechanic changed the oil in my car. I had the oil in my car changed.

2. The hairdresser cut my hair in a completely different style. I had my hair cut in a completely
new style.

3. A decorator has repainted our house. We have had our house repainted.
 4. A friend of mine, who´s an electrician, is going to repair my DVD player next week. I´m
going to have my DVD player repaired next week by a friend of mine, who´s an electrician.

5. My jacket is being cleaned at a specialist cleaner´s. I´m having my jacket cleaned at a

6. The town hall has just been rebuilt for the council. The council has just had the town hall
rebuilt.

Task 2. Write causative structure with have and get.

1. I washed my car.
2. I cut my hair.
3. The cleaner cleaned the house.
4. The taxi driver collected us.
5. John arrived on time.
6. The mechanic fixed the bus.

Task 3. Rewrite these sentences using have or get.

1. The mechanic changed the oil in my car.

2. The hairdresser cut my hair in a completely different style.

3. A decorator has repainted our house.

4. A friend of mine, who´s an electrician, is going to repair my DVD player next week.

5. My jacket is being cleaned at a specialist cleaner´s.

6. It was Jim’s son’s birthday yesterday so a chef made him a special cake

7. Laura is getting married in two hours so a hairdresser is doing her hair right now.

8. As her parents were away for the weekend, Mandy had a great party. This afternoon
somebody will be cleaning her house, before her parents arrive.