Inspector Jeffries asked his assistant to write the report.
Hello!
I need to write this sentence in causative.
"Inspector Jeffries asked his assistant to write the report."

I have two options.
1) Inspector Jefferies had the report written by his assistant.
2) Inspector Jefferies had his assistant to write the report.

Which one is correct? Why?

Question

Inspector Jeffries asked his assistant to write the report.
Hello!
I need to write this sentence in causative.
"Inspector Jeffries asked his assistant to write the report."

I have two options.
1) Inspector Jefferies had the report written by his assistant.
2) Inspector Jefferies had his assistant to write the report.

Which one is correct? Why?

Answer

The active voice "... [he] had his assistant write the report" is generally preferred, but there is an error in the exam question ("to write" instead of the correct "write").

The passive voice "... [he] had the report written by his assistant" is correct.

Answer

The answer is 1) we wouldn't use the 'to' in the second option.

Answers · 4

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