Grammar C1 - The Causative

Here is a summary of the concepts presented in the video:

• The Causative:
  • Used to describe services or actions arranged for someone else to perform rather than doing them oneself.
  • Formed by placing the object between the verb and the past participle (e.g., "I had my hair cut" or "I got my car repaired").
  • Emphasizes possessing the result of an action performed by a professional.
• The Impersonal Passive:
  • Used in formal writing, such as news reports or academic writing, to present unverified information objectively without sounding casual or subjective.
  • Typically begins with the phrase "it is" followed by a reporting verb and a clause (e.g., "It is believed that..." or "It is said that...").
  • Functions as a safety barrier, allowing the speaker or writer to report that a belief exists without directly claiming it as true.
• The Personal Passive:
  • Shifts focus to a specific person or object by moving the main subject to the front of the sentence instead of using the subject "it".
  • Uses an infinitive structure for present expectations (e.g., "The train is expected to be late").
  • Uses a perfect infinitive structure when reporting present beliefs about past events (e.g., "The suspect is believed to have fled the country").