We use get mainly in informal spoken English. You can use be in all situations.
We also use get in the following expressions (which are not passive in meaning):
get married get divorced get dressed (= put on your clothes) get changed (= change your clothes)
EXERCISES
43.1 When were they born? Choose five of these people and write a sentence for each. (Two of them were born in the same year.)
Beethoven Galileo Elvis Presley 1452 1869 1929
Agatha Christie Mahatma Gandhi Leonardo da Vinci 1564 1891 1935
Walt Disney Martin Luther King William Shakespeare 1770 1901
1. _Walt Disney was born in 1901._
2. ---
3. ---
4. ---
5. ---
6. ---
7. And you? I ---
43.2 Write these sentences in another way, beginning in the way shown.
1. They didn't give me the money. I _wasn't given the money._
2. They asked me some difficult questions at the interview. I ---
3. Janet's colleagues gave her a present when she retired. Janet ---
4. Nobody told me that George was ill. I wasn't ---
5. How much will they pay you? How much will you ---
6. I think they should have offered Tom the job. I think Tom ---
7. Has anybody shown you what to do? Have you ---
43.3 Complete the sentences using being + one of these verbs:
ask attack give invite keep pay
1. Mr Miller doesn't like _being kept_ waiting.
2. They went to the party without ---.
3. Most people like --- presents.
4. It's a dangerous city. People won't go out after dark because they are afraid of ---.
5. I don't like --- stupid questions.
6. Few people are prepared to work without ---.
43.4 Complete the sentences using get/got + one of these verbs (in the correct form): ask break damage hurt pay steal sting stop use
1. There was a fight at the party but nobody got hurt.
2. Ted --- by a bee while he was sitting in the garden.
3. How did that window ---?
4. These tennis courts don't --- very often, Not many people want to play.
5. I used to have a bicycle but it ---.
6. Last night I --- by the police as I was driving home.
7. How much did you --- last month?
8. Please pack these things very carefully. I don't want them to ---.
9. People often want to know what my Job is. I often --- that question.
UNIT 44. It is said that... He is said to... (be) supposed to...
A. Study this example situation:
Henry is very old. Nobody knows exactly how old he is, but:
It is said that he is 108 years old. or He is said to be 108 years old.
Both these sentences mean: 'People say that he is 108 years old.'
You can use these structures with a number of other verbs, especially:
thought believed considered reported known expected alleged understood
Compare the two structures:
* Cathy works very hard.
It is said that she works 16 hours a day. or She is said to work 16 hours a day.
* The police are looking for a missing boy.
It is believed that the boy is wearing a or white pullover and blue jeans. The boy is believed to be wearing a white pullover and blue jeans.
* The strike started three weeks ago.
It is expected that it will end soon. or The strike is expected to end soon
* A friend of mine has been arrested.
It is alleged that he kicked a policeman. or He is alleged to have kicked a policeman.
* Those two houses belong to the same family.
It is said that there is a secret tunnel between them. There is said to be a secret tunnel between them.
These structures are often used in news reports. For example, in a report about an accident:
* It is reported that two people were injured in the explosion. or Two people are reported to have been injured in the explosion.
B. (Be) supposed to
Sometimes it is supposed to ... = it is said to...
* Let's go and see that film. It's supposed to be very good. (= it is said to be very good)
* 'Why was he arrested?' 'He's supposed to have kicked a policeman.' (= he is said to have kicked a policeman)
But sometimes supposed to has a different meaning. 'Something is supposed to happen' = it is planned, arranged or expected. Often this is different from what really happens:
* I'd better hurry. It's nearly 8 o'clock and I'm supposed to be meeting Ann at 8.15. (= I have arranged to meet Ann, I said I would meet her)
* The train was supposed to arrive at 11.30 but it was an hour late. (= the train was
expected to arrive at 11.30 according to the timetable)
* You were supposed to clean the windows. Why didn't you do it?
'You're not supposed to do something' = it is not allowed or advisable for you to do it:
* You're not supposed to park your car here. It's private parking only.
* Mr. Bond is much better after his illness but he's still not supposed to do any heavy work. (= his doctors have advised him not to ...)
EXERCISES
44.1 Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown. Use the underlined word in your sentence.
1. It is _expected_ that the strike will end soon. The strike _is expected to end soon._
2. It is _expected_ that the weather will be good tomorrow. The weather is ---
3. It is _believed_ that the thieves got in through the kitchen window. The thieves ---
4. It is _reported_ that many people are homeless after the floods. Many people ---
5. It is _thought_ that the prisoner escaped by climbing over a wall. The prisoner ---
6. It is _alleged_ that the man drove through the town at 90 miles an hour. The man is ---
7. It is _reported_ that the building has been badly damaged by fire. The building ---
8. a: It is _said_ that the company is losing a lot of money. The company ---
b: It is _believed_ that the company lost a lot of money last year. The company ---
c: It is _expected_ that the company will lose money this year. The company ---
44.2 People say a lot of things about Arthur. For example:
1 Arthur cats spiders.
2 He is very rich.
3. (He writes poetry.
4. (He has 12 children.)
5. (He robbed a bank a long time ago.
Nobody knows for sure whether these things are true or not. Write sentences about Arthur using (be) supposed to.
1. Arthur is supposed to eat spiders.
2. He ---
3. ---
4. ---
5. ---
44.3 Now you have to use (be) supposed to with its other meaning. In each example what happens is different from what is supposed to happen. Use (be) supposed to + one of these verbs:
arrive be block come park phone start
Some of the sentences are negative (like the first example).
1. You_'re not suppose to park_ here. It's private parking only.
2. The train _was supposed to arrive_ at 11.30, but it was an hour late.
3. What are the children doing at home? They --- at school at this time.
4. We --- work at 8.15, but we rarely do anything before 8.30.
5. This door is a fire exit. You --- it.
6. Oh dear! I --- Ann but I completely forgot.
7. They arrived very early--at 2 o'clock. They --- until 3.30.
UNIT 45. Have something done
A. Study this example situation:
The roof of Jill's house was damaged in a storm, so she arranged for somebody to repair it. Yesterday a workman came and did the job.
Jill had the roof repaired yesterday.
This means: Jill arranged for somebody else to repair the roof. She didn't repair it herself.
We use have something done to say that we arrange for somebody else to do something for us.
Compare:
* Jill repaired the roof. (= she repaired it herself)
* Jill had the roof repaired. (= she arranged for somebody else to repair it)
Study these sentences:
* Did Ann make the dress herself or did she have it made?
* 'Are you going to repair the car yourself?' 'No, I'm going to have it repaired.'
Be careful with word order. The past participle (repaired/cut etc.) is after the object (the roof your hair etc.):
have + object + past participle
Jill had the roof repaired yesterday.
Where did you have your hair cut?
Your hair looks nice. Have you had it cut?
Julia has just had central heating installed in her house.
We are having the house painted at the moment.
How often do you have your car serviced?
I think you should have that coat cleaned soon.
I don't like having my photograph taken.
B. You can also say 'get something done' instead of 'have something done' (mainly in informal spoken English):
* When are you going to get the roof repaired? (= have the roof repaired)
* I think you should get your hair cut.
C. Sometimes have something done has a different meaning. For example:
* Jill and Eric had all their money stolen while they were on holiday.
Of course this does not mean that they arranged for somebody to steal their money. 'They had all their money stolen' means only: 'All their money was stolen from them.'
With this meaning, we use have something done to say that something happens to somebody or their belongings. Usually what happens is not nice:
* George had his nose broken in a fight.
* Have you ever had your passport stolen?
EXERCISES
45.1 Tick (V) the correct sentence, (a) or (b), for each picture.
1. SARAH
a Sarah is cutting her hair.
b Sarah is having her hair cut.
2. BILL
a Bill is cutting his hair.
b Bill is having his hair cut.
3. JOHN
a John is cleaning his shoes.
b John is having his shoes cleaned.
4. SUE
a Sue is taking a photograph.
b Sue is having her photograph taken.
45.2 Why did you do these things? Answer using 'have something done'. Use one of these verbs:
clean cut repair service
1. Why did you take your car to the garage? _To have it serviced._
2. Why did you take your jacket to the cleaner's? To ---
3. Why did you take your watch to the jeweller's? ---
4. Why did you go to the hairdresser? ---
45.3 Write sentences in the way shown.
1. Jill didn't repair the roof herself. She _had it repaired._
2. I didn't cut my hair myself. I ---
3. They didn't paint the house themselves. They ---
4. Sue didn't make the curtains herself. ---
45.4 Use the words in brackets to complete the sentences. Use the structure 'have something done'.
1. We _are having the house painted_ (the house/paint) at the moment.
2. I lost my key. I'll have to --- (another key/make).
3. When was the last time you --- (your hair/cut)?
4. You look different --- (you/your hair/cut)?
5. --- (you/a newspaper/deliver) to your house or do you go to the shop to buy one?
6. A: What are those workmen doing in your garden?
B: Oh, we --- (a swimming pool/build).
7. A: Can I see the photographs you took when you were on holiday?
B: I'm afraid I --- (not/the film/develop) yet.
8. This coat is dirty. I must --- (it/clean).
9. If you want to wear earrings, why don't you --- (your ears/pierce)?
45.5 Now you have to use 'have something done' with its second meaning (see Section C).
1. George's nose was broken in a fight.
What happened to George? _He had his nose broken in a fight._
2. Sarah's bag was stolen on a train.
What happened to Sarah? She ---
3. Fred's hat was blown off in the wind.
What happened to Fred? ---
4. Diane's passport was taken away from her by the police.
What happened to Diane? ---
UNIT 46. Reported speech (1) (He said that ...)
A. Study this example situation:
You want to tell somebody else what Tom said.
There are two ways of doing this:
You can repeat Tom's words (direct speech):
Tom said 'I'm feeling ill.'
Or you can use reported speech:
Tom said that he was feeling ill.
Compare:
direct: Tom said I am feeling ill.' in writing we use these to show direct speech.
reported: Tom said that he was feeling ill.
B. When we use reported speech, the main verb of the sentence is usually past (Tom said that ... I told her that... etc.). The rest of the sentence is usually past too:
* Tom said that he was feeling ill.
* I told her that I didn't have any money.
You can leave out that:
* Tom said (that) he was feeling ill.
* I told her (that) I didn't have any money.
In general, the present form in direct speech changes to the past form in reported speech:
am/is -> was
do/does -> did
will -> would
are -> were
have/has -> had
can -> could
want/like/know/go etc. -> want/liked/knew/went etc.
Compare direct speech and reported speech:
You met Judy. Here are some of the things she said to you in direct speech:
Judy:
'my parents are very well.'
'I'm going to learn to drive.'
'John has given up his job.'
'I can't come to the party on Friday.'
'I want to go away for a holiday but I don't know where to go.' 'I'm going away for a few days. I'll phone you when I get back.'
Later you tell somebody what Judy said. You use reported speech:
* Judy said that her parents were very well.
* She said that she was going to learn to drive.
* She said that John had given up his job.
* She said that she couldn't come to the party on Friday.
* She said that she wanted to go away for a holiday but (she) didn't know where to go.
* She said that she was going away for a few days and would phone me when she got back.
C. The past simple (did/saw/knew etc.) can usually stay the same in reported speech, or you can change it to the past Perfect (had done/had seen/had known etc.):
direct: Tom said: 'I woke up feeling ill, so I didn't go to work.'
reported: Tom said (that) he woke up feeling ill, so he didn't go to work. or Tom said (that) he had woken up feeling ill, so he hadn't gone to work.
EXERCISES
46.1 Yesterday you met a friend of yours, Charlie. Here are some of the things Charlie said to you:
1. I'm living in London now.
2. My father isn't very well.
3. Sharon and Paul are getting married next month.
4. Margaret has had a baby.
5. I don't know what Fred is doing.
6. I saw Helen at a party in June and she seemed fine.
7. I haven't seen Diane recently.
8. I'm not enjoying my job very much.
9. You can come and stay at my flat if you are ever in London.
10. My car was stolen a few weeks ago.
11. I want to go on holiday but I can't afford it.
12. I'll tell Ann I saw you.
Later that day you tell another friend what Charlie said. Use reported speech.
1. _Charlie said that he was living in London now._
2. He said that ---
3. He ---
4. ---
5. ---
6. ---
7. ---
8. ---
9. ---
10. ---
11. ---
12. ---
46.2 Somebody says something to you which is the opposite of what they said before. Write a suitable answer beginning I thought you said ....
1. A: That restaurant is expensive.
B: is It? _I thought you said it was cheap._
2. A: Ann is coming to the party tonight.
B: Is she? I thought you said she ---
3. A: Ann likes Paul.
B: Does she? I thought ---
4. A: I know lots of people.
B: Do you? I thought you said you ---
5. A: I'll be here next week.
B: Will you? ---
6. A: I'm going out this evening.
B: Are you? ---
7. A: I can speak a little French.
B: Can you? ---
8. A: I haven't been to the cinema for ages.
B: Haven't you? ---
UNIT 47. Reported speech (2)
A. It is not always necessary to change the verb when you use reported speech. If you report. something and it is still true, you do not need to change the verb:
* direct: Tom said 'New York is more lively than London.'
reported: Tom said that New York is more lively than London.
(New York is still more lively. The situation hasn't changed.)
* direct: Ann said 'I want to go to New York next year.'
reported: Ann said that she wants to go to New York next year.
(Ann still wants to go to New York next year.)
Note that it is also correct to change the verb into the past:
* Tom said that New York was more lively than London.