ACTIVE CAUSATIVE FORM EXERCISE 1 (ESL)

level: Intermediate (B1/B2)

The active causative — had + person + base verb — is used when someone arranges for another person to do something. This exercise practises transforming normal active sentences into the active causative pattern. Exercise 1 of 2.

Grammar review The active causative form — have + person + base verb

In this exercise you are transforming sentences into the active causative form. The structure is:
subject + had + person + base verb

What this means: The subject didn’t perform the action themselves — they arranged for a specific person to do it.
“Tina washed the dishes.” → “I had Tina wash the dishes.”
“Robert told us what happened.” → “I had Robert tell us what happened.”

Key points for this exercise:
• The verb after the person is always in the base form (no -ed, no to)
• The tense of had can change depending on the sentence context
• The person being arranged is the direct object after had

Compare with the passive causative:
Active: “I had Tina wash the dishes.” (Tina is named)
Passive: “I had the dishes washed.” (Tina not mentioned — focus on the dishes)

READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

Fill in the blanks to complete each ACTIVE CAUSATIVE FORM sentence, explaining how you arranged everything.
Example: Jim sent the letter. → I had Jim send the letter.

1. Tina washed the dishes. → I had Tina the dishes.

2. Robert told us what happened. → I had Robert us what happened.

3. Paula sat next to George. → I had Paula next to George.

4. My mother prepared the appetizers. → I had my mother the appetizers.

5. My brother brought the chairs from the living room. → I had my brother the chairs from the living room.

6. Steve bought some more soft drinks. → I had Steve some more soft drinks.

7. Kathy closed the window. → I had Kathy the window.

8. My sister gave everyone a piece of cake. → I had my sister everyone a piece of cake.

9. Peter asked Steve about his new house. → I had Peter Steve about his new house.

10. Frank drove everyone home. → I had Frank everyone home.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER CAUSATIVE FORM EXERCISES:
Causative form (active & passive) 1 (B1/B2)
Causative form (active & passive) 2 (B1/B2)
Causative form (have/get/make/let) 3 (B1/B2)
Causative form (active) 1 (B1/B2)
Causative form (active) 2 (B1/B2)
Causative form (passive) 1 (B1/B2)
Causative form (passive) 2 (B1/B2)
Passive voice (simple present) 1 (B1/B2)
Passive voice (simple past) 1 (B1/B2)
More grammar exercises

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