causative have + agent

googl · Post by **googl** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:12 pm

Dear Alan,

how should I give the causative 'have sth. done' the agent? In other words, which is possible:

I had John my car repaired.
I had my car repaired by John.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Thu Nov 04, 2004 3:36 am

googl · Post by **googl** » Fri Nov 05, 2004 1:13 pm

Dear Alan,

are there any other situations where 'by' can be used? I mean that in the causative (and passive) we use 'by' to say the action's maker. Is that only in causative and passive?

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Sat Nov 06, 2004 4:23 am

You can use 'by' to introduce an adjectival prepositional phrase as in 'a poem by Schiller', but that is, in origin, simply elliptical for 'written/composed by'.

No other agentive uses of 'by' spring to mind.