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Key Word Transformations 1: Passives and Have Something Done

Students practise Reading and Use of English Part 4 with passives, have something done and reporting passives, building from controlled practice to two exam-format sets.

Use of english · Passive · Transformations

B2 First preparationKey Word Transformations 1Key Word Transformations 2

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Plan at a glance

Aims

Understand how Reading and Use of English Part 4 works and how it is marked
Learn and use 12 words and phrases in 2 sets: Have something done: services, Reporting verbs in the passive
Use passives, have something done and reporting passives accurately in transformations
Complete two exam-format sets of Part 4 within the word limit

Stages · 80 min

5 minLead-in: Write one Part 4 task on the board. Students guess the answer in pairs, then count the words together.
10 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes: how Part 4 works, the step-by-step strategy and the three target structures.
15 minControlled practice: Ex. 1–3
15 minAccuracy practice: Ex. 4–6
20 minExam practice: Ex. 7–8
15 minWriting: Ex. 9

Printables

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Grammar notes

How Part 4 works

There are six questions. Each has a first sentence, a key word in capitals and a second sentence with a gap.
Write between two and five words, including the key word. Contractions count as two words (don't = do not).
Never change the key word: no new form, no new spelling.
Each answer is worth two marks, so it usually tests two things, for example a passive and a change of tense.

Step by step

Read both sentences and underline what is different.
Decide what the key word needs: a passive, have something done or a reporting passive.
Write your answer, then count the words.
Check the tense and the meaning: nothing added, nothing missing.

Passives in every tense

be + past participle: is being built, has been stolen, will be sent, must be signed.
Past modals: should have been told, must have been taken.
The agent (by …) is often not needed, but keep it if the meaning depends on it.

Reporting passives

It is said that he is rich. → He is said to be rich.
For a past action, use to have + past participle: The bridge is thought to have been designed by a local engineer.

Have something done

have + object + past participle: someone else does it for you (I had my car serviced).
get works in the same way and is a little more informal (I got my car serviced).

Study tips

Keep a list of the structures Part 4 often tests, with one example of each.
Practise with a timer: about one minute per question in the exam.

Glossary

Have something done: services6 items
Reporting verbs in the passive6 items

See every word and its meaning

Complete the exercises, then check your answers.

What is being tested?

Each pair shows a first sentence and its transformation. What does each one test?

a
They cancelled the concert. → The concert was cancelled.
b
Everyone knows that the area is dangerous at night. → The area is known to be dangerous at night.
c
Reports say that a man was injured. → A man is reported to have been injured.
d
A hairdresser coloured her hair. → She had her hair coloured.
e
They have opened a new café in town. → A new café has been opened in town.
f
A mechanic changed the tyres. → We had the tyres changed.

Passive forms

Complete each sentence with the correct passive form of the verb in brackets.

a
The bridge (repair) at the moment, so the traffic is very slow.
b
All the tickets (sell) by the time we arrived at the box office.
c
The results (announce) next Friday.
d
This form must (sign) by both parents.
e
Since 2015, more than fifty new homes (build) in the village.
f
I hate (tell) what to do by people I don't know.
g
The thief (see) leaving the building just after midnight.

Have something done

Complete each sentence with have or get + object + past participle, using the words in brackets. Use the correct form of have or get.

a
If your gums hurt, you should (your teeth / check) by a dentist.
b
If you get headaches when you read, you should (your eyes / test).
c
You can (your photo / take) in the machine by the station.
d
It's getting cold, so we need to (the boiler / service) before winter.
e
The windows were so dirty that we decided to (the windows / clean).
f
After the storm, we had to (the roof / repair) quickly.

Fix the answer

These answers to Part 4 tasks each have one mistake. Find it and write the correction.

a
My car is being repair at the garage this week.
Correction:
b
The new library is said that it is the best in the region.
Correction:
c
I had cut my hair yesterday, so it's very short now.
Correction:
d
The match was cancel because of the rain.
Correction:
e
The castle is believed to build in the 1600s.
Correction:
f
We were made wait outside for an hour.
Correction:

Guided transformations

Complete the second sentence using the word given. The start of the answer is already there to help you. Use between two and five words, including the word given.

a
They are building a new hospital near the station.
BEING
A new hospital near the station.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
b
Someone has stolen my wallet!
BEEN
My wallet !
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
c
People say that the castle is haunted.
SAID
The castle haunted.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
d
A mechanic is going to service my car tomorrow.
HAVING
I tomorrow.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
e
You must not take photos in the gallery.
ALLOWED
You take photos in the gallery.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
f
They think the thieves escaped by car.
THOUGHT
The thieves by car.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.

Which answer gets both marks?

Choose the answer that is correct, uses the key word unchanged and has no more than five words.

a
People think the fire started in the kitchen. (THOUGHT) The fire ___ in the kitchen.
b
Someone is painting our front door today. (HAVING) We ___ today.
c
They will announce the winner at 8 pm. (BE) The winner ___ at 8 pm.
d
Visitors must wear a helmet on the building site. (WORN) Helmets ___ by visitors on the building site.

Exam practice: set A

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.

Exam task: Reading and Use of English, Part 4

Tip: Decide first what the key word needs: a passive, have something done or a reporting passive. Then count your words; contractions count as two.

a
Police are questioning a man about the robbery.
BEING
A man about the robbery.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
b
It's two months since I had my hair cut.
HAD
I haven't two months.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
c
Everyone expects the new stadium to open next spring.
EXPECTED
The new stadium next spring.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
d
They didn't tell us about the delay until we got to the airport.
TOLD
We about the delay until we got to the airport.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
e
A builder is going to fix our kitchen ceiling next week.
FIXED
We are going to next week.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
f
People believe the painting is worth over a million pounds.
BELIEVED
The painting worth over a million pounds.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.

Exam practice: set B

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. Use between two and five words, including the word given.

Exam task: Reading and Use of English, Part 4

Tip: Read your finished sentence aloud in your head: it must mean the same as the first sentence, in the same tense.

a
Somebody should have told me about the change of plan.
BEEN
I should about the change of plan.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
b
A dressmaker made my sister's dress for the wedding.
HAD
My sister for the wedding.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
c
They say that the old mill was built in 1750.
SAID
The old mill built in 1750.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
d
Nobody has cleaned this room for weeks.
BEEN
This room for weeks.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
e
My parents made me tidy my room before I could go out.
MADE
I my room before I could go out.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.
f
The company will send you the tickets by email.
SENT
The tickets by email.
Use 2–5 words, including the word given.

Write your own

Write four transformations of your own, like the ones in this lesson.

Write four Part 4 tasks for a partner: a first sentence, a key word in capitals and a second sentence with a gap. Test a passive, have something done and a reporting passive (is said to, is believed to, is expected to). Then swap with a partner, answer each other's tasks and check: two to five words, key word unchanged, same meaning.

Suggested minimum: 40 words

0 words · aim for at least 40

Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item

Revise with a game

This lesson's own words and questions. Play on your own, or in teams on the classroom screen.

Glossary

The 12 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 2 sets.

Have something done: services

have your teeth checked: let a dentist look at your teeth to see if they are healthy
have your eyes tested: let an optician check how well you can see
have your photo taken: let someone or a machine take a photo of you
have the boiler serviced: pay an engineer to check the heating system
have the windows cleaned: pay someone to clean your windows
have the roof repaired: pay a builder to fix the roof

Reporting verbs in the passive

is said to: people say that someone or something is or does something
is believed to: people believe that something is true
is thought to: people think that something is true
is expected to: people think that something will happen
is known to: people know that something is true
is reported to: news reports say that something is true or has happened

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Key Word Transformations 1: Passives and Have Something Done

Students practise Reading and Use of English Part 4 with passives, have something done and reporting passives, building from controlled practice to two exam-format sets.

Use of english · Passive · Transformations

Or download everything as a ZIP (2 PDFs)

This lesson plan and its PDFs are free.

Plan at a glance

Aims

Understand how Reading and Use of English Part 4 works and how it is marked
Learn and use 12 words and phrases in 2 sets: Have something done: services, Reporting verbs in the passive
Use passives, have something done and reporting passives accurately in transformations
Complete two exam-format sets of Part 4 within the word limit

Stages · 80 min

5 minLead-in: Write one Part 4 task on the board. Students guess the answer in pairs, then count the words together.
10 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes: how Part 4 works, the step-by-step strategy and the three target structures.
15 minControlled practice: Ex. 1–3
15 minAccuracy practice: Ex. 4–6
20 minExam practice: Ex. 7–8
15 minWriting: Ex. 9

Printables

Click a page to preview it, download it or open it in a new tab.

Download all (ZIP, 2 PDFs)

Grammar notes

How Part 4 works

There are six questions. Each has a first sentence, a key word in capitals and a second sentence with a gap.
Write between two and five words, including the key word. Contractions count as two words (don't = do not).
Never change the key word: no new form, no new spelling.
Each answer is worth two marks, so it usually tests two things, for example a passive and a change of tense.

Step by step

Read both sentences and underline what is different.
Decide what the key word needs: a passive, have something done or a reporting passive.
Write your answer, then count the words.
Check the tense and the meaning: nothing added, nothing missing.

Passives in every tense

be + past participle: is being built, has been stolen, will be sent, must be signed.
Past modals: should have been told, must have been taken.
The agent (by …) is often not needed, but keep it if the meaning depends on it.

Reporting passives

It is said that he is rich. → He is said to be rich.
For a past action, use to have + past participle: The bridge is thought to have been designed by a local engineer.

Have something done

have + object + past participle: someone else does it for you (I had my car serviced).
get works in the same way and is a little more informal (I got my car serviced).

Glossary

The 12 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 2 sets.

Have something done: services

have your teeth checked: let a dentist look at your teeth to see if they are healthy
have your eyes tested: let an optician check how well you can see
have your photo taken: let someone or a machine take a photo of you
have the boiler serviced: pay an engineer to check the heating system
have the windows cleaned: pay someone to clean your windows
have the roof repaired: pay a builder to fix the roof

Reporting verbs in the passive

is said to: people say that someone or something is or does something
is believed to: people believe that something is true
is thought to: people think that something is true
is expected to: people think that something will happen
is known to: people know that something is true
is reported to: news reports say that something is true or has happened