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From: "credoquaabsurdum" <credoquaabsurdum@yahoo.com>
Newsgroups: alt.languages.english
Subject: Re: what's the difference?
Date: 3 May 2005 01:49:03 -0700
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This is a classic ELT question, phrased in a style typical to a
foreign language learner.
This passive form is typically called "the causative."
Have sby doing sth (you'll pardon my "y," but I'm old school) is the
present progressive (also known as the present continuous) form of
"have sby do sth." The auxiliary (helping) verb in this particular
structure can be tricky.
Where's John?
Oh, he's outside. I just had him wash my car. (Past Simple - He's
done.)
"I" is the subject. "Him" is the complement (usually mistaken for an
object).
Where's John?
Oh, he's outside. I have him washing my car. (Present Continuous - He's
doing it now.)
"I" is the subject. "Him" is the complement.
The causative is rarely taught in a form other than in the past simple,
which makes good sense, as in real usage, 90% of all passive verbs are
in the past simple. However, learners tend to panic when they see
different verb forms, mostly because, as in all passive verb forms,
it's not clear what the verb should agree with.
Good luck, Jacek.
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