Passive Voice Lesson Plan – Causative Passive

This passive voice lesson plan introduces ESL students to the causative passive. Scroll down to download the lesson and find out how to teach it virtually or in-person!

What is the passive voice and the causative passive?

Just a reminder: the passive voice is a grammatical structure where the focus is on the action or result rather than who performed it. For example, “The cake was eaten” instead of “He ate the cake.” It’s commonly used in both spoken and written English to shift attention, avoid naming the subject, or sound more formal.

In particular, this passive voice lesson covers the causative passive — a grammatical structure used to indicate that someone arranges for another person to perform a service or action. Common examples include sentences like “I had my hair cut” or “She got her car repaired.” These constructions are passive in meaning because the subject is not performing the action but is instead the recipient of the service.

Download the this passive voice lesson plan on the causative passive

This passive voice lesson plan download is at the CEFR: B1+; WIDA: Expanding level.

Objective: To introduce the causative passive, which has the meaning but not the structure of a passive. Introduce the interchangeability of have and get.

Does not cover: Scenarios where have and get produce different meanings in the causative passive (e.g. I had him fired / I got him fired.)

Download the lesson plan here:

If you are looking for even more information on how to teach this lesson plan, be sure to sign up for a free Off2Class account. You will gain access to teacher notes that will guide and prepare you.

Don’t forget about our free lessons!

If you enjoyed this free ESL lesson plan download, there are 150+ available here. We designed these lesson plans to help save you time.

We know teaching English learners can be tricky. Therefore, we also offer a wide selection of other resources, training, and content to help you succeed. You can sign up for a free account to access more lesson plans and resources!