E. Passive Form Uses
E1. We say ‘I was born’ (not I am born). I was born in Seoul. or Where were you born? (not Where are you born?) How many babies are born every day?
E2. can use get instead of be in the passive when things happen (e.g. There was a fight at the party, but nobody got hurt. (= nobody was hurt), Jill is liked by everybody. (not gets liked: this is not a ‘happening’))
a. use get mainly informal spoken English. We can use be in all situation.
b. also use get in the sentences which are not passive in meaning. (e.g. get married, get divorced, get lost (= not know where you are), get dressed (= put on your clothes), get changed (= change your clothes))
E3. People say that something is ~, can use this sentence with: alleged, believed, considered, expected, known, reported, thought, understood. (e.g. Jay works very hard: It is said that he works 16 hours a day. or He is said to work 16 hours a day.)
a. These structures are often used in news reports. (e.g. It is reported that two people were injured in the explosion. or Two people are reported to have been injured in the explosion.)
b. Sometimes (it is) supposed to ~ = (it is) said to ~ (e.g. I want to see that film. It’s supposed to be good.) We use supposed to say what is intended, arranged. Often this is different from the real situation. (e.g. The plan is supposed to be a secret, but everybody seems to know about it. (= the plan is supposed to be a secret))
c. You’re not supposed to do something = it is not allowed or advisable. (e.g. You’re not supposed to park your car here. It’s private parking only.)
E4. use have something done to say that we arrange for somebody else to do something for us. (e.g. Julie repaired the car. (= she repaired it herself) vs. Julie had the car repaired. (= she arranged for somebody else to repair it))
a. can also say ‘get something done’ instead of ‘have something done’ (mainly in informal spoken English). (e.g. When are you going to get the car repaired? (= have the car repaired))
b. Sometimes have something done has a different meaning. (e.g. Bob and Joe had all their money stolen while they were on holiday.) 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’.
c. can use have something done to say that something happens to somebody or their belongings. Usually what happens is not nice. (e.g. Gary had his nose broken in a fight. (= his nose was broken))