Causative Verbs

Introduction

Causative verbs in English convey the idea that one entity influences another to perform an action or assume a certain state. In this article, we’ll explore causative verbs’ definition, formation, common examples, and how they operate in various tenses.

What are Causative Verbs?

Causative structures indicate that one thing or person causes another thing or person to do something rather than performing the action themselves.

In other words, causative verbs convey the idea that one entity influences another to perform an action or assume a certain state.

Here are some examples:

Examples:

1. Have (give someone the responsibility to do something)
   • I had John fix the car.
   • I had my hair cut.
2. Make (force someone to do something)
   • The teacher made the students work in groups.
   • Our boss made us work extra hours.
3. Get (convince or trick someone into doing something)
   • He got the mechanic to repair the machine.
   • She got him to read more.
4. Let (allow someone to do something)
   • Jane let her son go out.
   • They let the children play in the yard.

Forming Causative Verbs

Causative verbs are often formed using specific structures. Let’s examine some examples:

1. Object Followed by Base Form of the Verb:

Subject + Causative Verb + Object + Infinitive Without To (Bare Infinitive)

1. She had the chef prepare a special dish.
   • In this structure, the subject (She) initiates the action using the causative verb (had), followed by an object (the chef), and the base form of the main verb (prepare).
2. The storm made us cancel the outdoor event.
   • Here, the subject (The storm) causes the action through the causative verb (made), followed by an object (us), and the base form of the main verb (cancel).
3. I let my friend borrow my car for the weekend.
   • In this case, the subject (I) allows or permits the action using the causative verb (let), followed by an object (my friend), and the base form of the main verb (borrow).

2. Object Followed by Infinitive with “to”:

Subject + Causative Verb + Object + Infinitive With To

1. They got the dog to fetch the ball.
   • Here, the subject (They) influences the action through the causative verb (got), followed by an object (the dog), and an infinitive phrase that includes the base form of the main verb (to fetch).
2. He persuaded his colleagues to join the charity event.
   • In this structure, the subject (He) persuades the object (his colleagues) to perform the action through the causative verb (persuaded), followed by an infinitive phrase (to join the charity event).

3. Object followed by Past Participle

Subject + Causative Verb + Object + Past Participle

1. She had the job done.
   • In this structure, the subject (She) causes the action by using the causative verb (had), followed by an object (the job), and the past participle of the main verb (done).
2. He got his car fixed.
   • In this structure, the subject (He) causes the action by using the causative verb (got), followed by an object (his car), and the past participle of the main verb (fixed).

4. Object Followed by Present Participle

Subject + Causative Verb + Object + Present Participle

2. He had his team working on the project.
   • Here, the subject (He) causes the action through the causative verb (had), followed by an object (his team), and the present participle of the main verb (working).

Structure	Example	Explanation
1. Object Followed By Base Form Of The Verb	She had the chef prepare a special dish.	The subject (She) initiates the action using the causative verb (had), followed by an object (the chef), and the base form of the main verb (prepare).
2. Object Followed By Infinitive With “To”	They got the dog to fetch the ball.	The subject (They) influences the action through the causative verb (got), followed by an object (the dog), and an infinitive phrase that includes the base form of the main verb (to fetch).
3. Object Followed By Past Participle	She had the job done.	The subject (She) causes the action by using the causative verb (had), followed by an object (the job), and the past participle of the main verb (done).
4. Object Followed By Present Participle	He had his team working on the project.	Here, the subject (He) causes the action through the causative verb (had), followed by an object (his team), and the present participle of the main verb (working).

Understanding the meaning of Causative Verbs

Causatives express diverse meanings. Here are some examples:

Have (give someone the responsibility to do something)

• I had John fix the car
• I had my hair cut

Make (force someone to do something)

• The teacher made the students work in groups
• Our boss made us work extra hours

Get (convince or trick someone into doing something)

• He got the mechanic to repair the machine.
• She got him to read more.

Let (allow someone to do something)

• Jane let her son go out
• They let the children play in the yard

Common Causative Verbs:

Here are some commonly used causative verbs along with example sentences for each:

1. Allow:
   • The school allows students to bring their own lunch.
   • The manager allowed the employee to take a day off.
2. Help:
   • Sarah helped her friend write a cover letter.
   • The tutorial video helped me understand the software.
3. Enable:
   • The new software enables users to edit photos easily.
   • The modifications enabled the system to run more efficiently.
4. Force:
   • The circumstances forced them to reconsider their decision.
   • The law forced companies to disclose their environmental impact.
5. Require:
   • The job requires employees to have strong communication skills.
   • The assignment requires students to conduct thorough research.
6. Persuade:
   • He persuaded his colleagues to join the charity event.
   • The advertisement persuaded customers to try the new product.
7. Have:
   • She had the chef prepare a special dish.
   • We had the team complete the project.
   • I had John fix the car.
   • I had my hair cut.
8. Make:
   • The storm made us cancel the outdoor event.
   • His argument made me rethink my decision.
   • The teacher made the students work in groups.
   • Our boss made us work extra hours.
9. Get:
   • I got my friend to help with the move.
   • They got the dog to fetch the ball.
   • He got the mechanic to repair the machine.
   • She got him to read more.
10. Let:
    • She let me borrow her car for the weekend.
    • They let us choose the movie.
    • Jane let her son go out.
    • They let the children play in the yard.

More on teaching causative verbs here.

Example Sentences

• My parents made me clean my room before going out.
• The urgent deadline made him work late into the night.
• She had her brother fix her computer because it wasn’t working.
• The manager had the team prepare a detailed report for the client.I need to get my car serviced this weekend.
• The teacher got the students to complete the assignment by the end of the day.
• They let their children play in the park after finishing their homework.
• The supervisor let the employees leave early as a reward for their hard work.
• The rules don’t allow students to use phones during exams.
• The company policy doesn’t allow employees to bring pets to the office.
• Can you help me find a suitable dress for the party?
• The tutorial helped the students understand the complex topic.
• The heavy rain forced us to cancel the outdoor event.
• Unexpected circumstances forced him to reconsider his travel plans.
• She persuaded her friend to join the gym with her.

Conclusion

In summary, causative verbs indicate that one thing or person causes another thing or person to do something rather than performing the action themselves. Key examples of these verbs, such as “have,” “let,” “make,” and “get,” showcase the diverse ways in which actions are initiated, permitted, forced, or convinced.The structure takes different forms: the object may be followed by a base form of the verb, the infinitive with to, the past participle, or the present participle.