HAVE/GET SOMETHING DONE - CAUSATIVE SENTENCES

Causative sentences show that somebody/something is indirectly responsible for an action. The subject doesn't perform the action itself, but causes someone/something else to do it instead. For example:
- Yesterday I had my hair cut.
I didn't cut my own hair, but I made someone else do it for me instead - I "caused" them to cut my hair.
By using the causative sentence takes attention away from the doer of the action, and gives more attention to the action being done. It sounds polite and professional. Get is often used instead of have. For example:
- I got my computer fixed - I had my computer fixed. (These two sentences mean the same thing).ç
Causative verbs are often used with negative experiences. In these situations it's more common to use have. For example:
- I had my wallet stolen. (I didn't actually cause my wallet to be stolen - someone stole my wallet from me)

To practice this structure follow these links.
UsingEnglish
Englishpage

REPORTED SPEECH EXPLANATIONS AND PRACTICE

There are two ways of relating what a person has said: direct and indirect.
In direct speech we repeat the original speaker’s exact words: He said, “I have lost my umbrella.”
Direct speech is found in conversations in books, in plays and in quotations.
In indirect speech we give the exact meaning of a remark or a speech, without necessarily using the speaker’s exact words:
He said (that) he had lost his umbrella.
Indirect speech is normally used when conversation is reported verbally, though direct speech is sometimes here to give a more dramatic effect. When we turn direct speech into indirect, some changes are usually necessary. In this entry you can see the rules and changes of Reported Speech and some exercises with the key. Have a nice practice:
Reporting questions (and key)
Reporting commands and requests (and key)
Reporting statements (and key)

Class Homework

Power Point seen in class

To practice with some online activities: agendaweb reported speech
Another site: Perfect English Grammar
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