Causative structures

Causative Verbs

Today, we’re going to look at the causative verbs have, get, make, let, and help. These may seem like normal verbs, but when used in a causative way, they have a very unique structure and special purpose. Let’s dive into how and why we use them!

What Are Causative Verbs?

The basic idea of causative verbs is that the subject does not do the action themselves; instead, someone else performs the action, but the subject is in control. Although this may sound a bit dramatic, this is the fundamental concept of causative verbs. Let’s explore this idea through four main steps: paying for a service, asking, convincing, persuading, forcing, and granting permission. We’ll spend more time on the first two steps (paying for a service and asking/convincing) using have and get.

1. Paying for a Service

In causative constructions for paying for a service, we use have or get followed by something (the object) and the past participle (V3). For example:

S + have/get + O + V3

Example: I have my shirts ironed every week. In this sentence, the subject “I” arranges for someone else to iron the shirts, which means the subject is not doing the action themselves. Similarly, you can say I get my shirts ironed every week. The structure remains the same, but the verb get is slightly less formal compared to have.

2. Asking or Convincing Someone

When you want to ask, persuade, or convince someone to do something, we still use have and get, but the structure changes slightly. The structure becomes:

S + have + someone + V1

S + get + someone + to + V1

For example: I’ll have him take a look at my car. In this sentence, the subject “I” is asking or arranging for someone (him) to take a look at the car. Similarly, you can say, I can’t get my son to sleep, which shows that the subject is trying but struggling to convince someone (the son) to sleep.

3. Forcing Someone to Do Something

When we use make in the causative sense, we are forcing someone to do something, and there are different levels of force, such as physical, mental, or emotional force. The structure is:

S + make + someone + V1

For example: The robbers made the security guard give them the code. In this case, the subject “The robbers” are forcing the security guard to perform an action, and the security guard had no choice. Similarly: My boss makes us work late on Fridays. Here, “my boss” is compelling the subject to work late.

4. Giving Permission

When we use let, we are giving someone permission or allowing them to do something. The structure is:

S + let + someone + V1

For example: My professor let us use our phones during the test. In this case, the subject “professor” is allowing the students to use their phones during the test. Similarly: My sister lets me borrow her car whenever I need it. Here, the subject “sister” is granting permission to borrow the car.

5. Helping Someone Do Something

When we use help, we are assisting someone in doing something. The structure for this causative verb is:

S + help + someone + (to) + V1

S + help + someone + V1

For example: I help my friend (to) complete his project. In this sentence, the subject “I” is assisting my friend with completing the project. You could also say, She helps me study for exams. Here, the subject “she” is providing assistance with studying for exams.

Hello Friends

I hope today’s lesson helped clarify the differences between have, get, make, let, and help. By using these causative verbs, you can express various actions done by others in different contexts, whether it’s paying for a service, convincing someone, forcing an action, granting permission, or assisting with a task. Keep practicing these structures, and you’ll be more confident using them in everyday conversations!