Passive 2
Have something done
We use have something done to say that we arrange for somebody else to do something for us. For example:
Jane repaired the dishwasher. (she repaired it herself)
Jane had the dishwasher repaired. (she arranged for somebody else to repair it)
Be careful with word order. The past participle is after the object:
have + object + past participle
Jane had the roof repaired yesterday.
Where did you have your hair cut?
You can also say "get something done” instead of "have something done”
When are you going to get the roof repaired?
I think you should get your hair cut.
Sometimes have something done has a different meaning. For example:
Sue and Dick had all their money stolen while they were on vacation.
With this meaning, we use have something done to say that something happens to somebody or their belongings. Usually what happens is not nice:
Tom had his nose broken in a fight.
Have you ever had your passport stolen?
It is said that… / He is said to…
Review this example:
Harry is very old. Nobody knows exactly how old he is, but:
It is said that he is 100 years old.
He is said to be 100 years old.
Both these sentences mean: "People say that he is 100 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:
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.
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.
Two people are reported to have been injured in the explosion.
(Be) supposed to…
Sometimes it is supposed to… means 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)
But sometimes supposed to has 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 7 o'clock and I'm supposed to be meeting Mary at 7:15.
"You're not supposed to do something” = it is not allowed or advisable for you to do it:
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…)