causative verbs

Causative Verbs

• Causative verbs indicate that a person or thing causes another person to do something. In other words, someone or something is indirectly responsible for a specific action.
• In simple words, the causative verbs are verbs used when one person causes another person to do something or causes something to happen, rather than doing the action himself.

Note :- The subject does not perform the action directly but gets it done by someone else.

 

Examples :

The principal had the computer repaired.
(The principal didn’t repair the computer but arranged for someone else to repair it.)

You made me laugh.

(Because of your action/beahviour I laughed, your beahaviour or action forced me to laugh.)

 

Functions

A causative verb shows that someone makes, gets, allows, helps, or has another person perform an action.

It causes something to happen

 

Examples of causative verb:

Have

Let

Make

Get

Help

 

 

How to use causative verbs

 

1. HAVE (to ask or arrange for someone to do something)

Structure:

1.    Subject + have + person + base verb

2.    Subject + have + object + past participle (V3)

Examples:

• The teacher had the students complete the project.
• My mother had the gardener trim the plants.
• Jane had Alexa clean the house.
• I had my car washed yesterday morning.
• I had my hair cut.

 

2. LET (To allow/permit someone to do something)

Structure:

Subject + let + person + base verb

 

Examples:

My parents let me go to the trip.

The teacher let the students leave early.

She let her son play outside.

 

Note: After let, we use V1 (base verb).

Do not let kids watch violent movies.

Let me know if you need help with the homework.

She lets me borrow her phone sometimes.

 

3. MAKE (To force or compel someone to do something)

 Structure:

Subject + make + person + base verb

 

Examples:

The coach made the players practice harder.

My parents made me apologize.

The teacher made the students rewrite the test.

 

Note: After make, we use the base verb (V1), not to + verb.

She made me go to the party even if I didn’t want to.

My parents make me come home every summer break.

I made my mother bake some cookies.

 

4. HELP (to assist someone to do something)

Structure:

Subject + help + person + base verb

 

Examples:

• My friend helped me solve the problem.
• The teacher helped us improve our writing.
• Help your sister complete her drawing.

 

5. GET (to convince or persuade someone to do something or arrange)

Structure:

1.    Subject + get + person + to + base verb

2.    Subject + get + object + past participle (V3)

 

Examples:

I got my brother to help me.

The teacher got the students to participate.

She got the mechanic to check the car.

I got her to buy me tickets.

She got her dad to enroll her at UCLA.

He got his phone repaired.

They got the house painted.

Get this work done by evening.

              

                                In a Nutshell

Causative Verb	Structure	Function	Example
Have	have + person + V1	arrange/ask	I had him clean the room.
Have	have + object + V3	service done	I had my car repaired.
Get	get + person + to + V1	persuade	I got him to help me.
Get	get + object + V3	service done	I got my laptop fixed.
Make	make + person + V1	force	The teacher made us study.
Let	let + person + V1	allow	Mother let me play.
Help	help + person + V1	assist	She helped me learn.

Important Rule:-

After make, let, help and have, use the base form (V1) without to.

 

More examples:

The president had the vice president lead the new dam project.

You made me call Julienne every day.

I got my parents to buy me a new bike for my birthday.

She got the teacher to dismiss the class on time today.

She let me visit my friend today.

Why did they let the dogs run without a leash?

My teacher made me do my homework early.

Linda made me wash the dishes.

Susan helped me win the competition.

Help your children grow into mature people.