Causative verbs are a crucial part of English grammar, helping us express situations where someone or something causes another action or event. Whether you’re trying to explain how something got done or how an action was permitted, understanding causative verbs will elevate your language skills. In this article, we’ll delve into the definition of causative verbs, provide examples, and explore how to use them in different tenses and contexts.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of causative verbs in English, enabling you to use them confidently in your everyday communication.
What Are Causative Verbs in English?
Causative verbs are verbs that show the cause of an action. They are used to indicate that someone or something is responsible for causing, making, or allowing an action or event to take place. These verbs express the idea that the subject did not perform the action themselves but made someone or something else do it.
For example:
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Cause: “The manager caused the delay.” Here, the manager is responsible for the delay, but the delay itself was an event that happened due to the manager’s actions.
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Make: “He made his brother clean the room.” The brother did the cleaning, but it was the subject (he) who caused the action to happen.
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Allow: “They allowed the students to leave early.” The students did the action (leaving), but they were permitted by the subject (them).
In essence, causative verbs help show the connection between the cause and the action that follows. They are commonly used in both casual and formal communication to indicate the agent behind an event.
Types of Causative Verbs in English
There are several causative verbs in English, each with its own usage and meaning. The most common causative verbs include make, have, get, let, and help. Let’s break them down and look at how they are used in sentences.
1. Make (Forcing someone to do something)
The verb “make” is used when someone forces or compels another person to perform an action. The structure is: [Subject] + make + [person] + [base form of verb]
Example:
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“The teacher made the students apologize for their behavior.”
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Here, the teacher compelled the students to apologize.
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2. Have (Arranging for someone else to do something)
The verb “have” is used when someone arranges for another person to perform an action. The structure is: [Subject] + have + [person] + [base form of verb]
Example:
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“I had the mechanic fix my car.”
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The speaker arranged for the mechanic to fix the car.
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3. Get (Persuading someone to do something)
The verb “get” is used when someone persuades or convinces another person to do something. The structure is: [Subject] + get + [person] + to + [base form of verb]
Example:
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“I got my friend to help me with the project.”
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The speaker persuaded their friend to assist.
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4. Let (Allowing someone to do something)
The verb “let” is used when someone gives permission for another person to do something. The structure is: [Subject] + let + [person] + [base form of verb]
Example:
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“Her parents let her go to the party.”
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The parents allowed her to attend the party.
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5. Help (Assisting someone to do something)
The verb “help” is used when someone assists another person in performing an action. The structure is: [Subject] + help + [person] + [to + base form of verb]
Example:
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“She helped her friend to cook dinner.”
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The speaker assisted their friend in preparing the meal.
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Common Causative Verbs and Their Usage
To get a better understanding of causative verbs, let’s look at some of the most common causative verbs used in English. These verbs help to express various situations where one person causes, arranges, or allows another to perform an action.
| Causative Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Make | To force or compel someone to do something | “The manager made the employees work overtime.” |
| Have | To arrange for someone to do something | “I had my assistant send the email.” |
| Get | To persuade someone to do something | “She got her brother to clean the garage.” |
| Let | To allow someone to do something | “They let the children play outside.” |
| Help | To assist someone in doing something | “He helped me to fix the computer.” |
These verbs are vital in everyday communication, and mastering their use will significantly improve your fluency and comprehension.
Using Causative Verbs in Sentences
Causative verbs are typically used in sentences with two objects. The first object is the person or thing that is responsible for causing, making, or allowing the action to happen. The second object is the person or thing that performs the action. Let’s take a look at some examples:
1. Using Causative Verbs with Two Objects
In these sentences, the first object is the subject (the one causing the action), and the second object is the person or thing performing the action.
Example 1:
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“John got his car washed by the mechanic.”
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John is the subject causing the action, and the mechanic is the person who performs the action of washing the car.
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Example 2:
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“She made her brother study for the test.”
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She is the subject, and her brother is the one performing the action (studying).
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2. Using Causative Verbs with Three Objects
Sometimes, causative verbs can be used in sentences with three objects. In this case, the sentence includes:
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The subject (the cause)
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The person or thing being affected by the action
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The action being caused
Example:
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“He had his assistant type the report.”
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He is the subject; the assistant is the one affected (doing the typing), and the action is typing the report.
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Causative Verbs in English Different Tenses
Causative Verbs in English can be used in various tenses. Understanding how to use them across different tenses will help you express actions in the past, present, or future. Let’s take a closer look at how to use causative verbs in different tenses.
1. Causative Verbs in the Present Tense
When using causative verbs in the present tense, we typically use the base form of the verb for general actions and the “to” form when talking about specific actions that will happen.
Examples:
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Make: “She makes her children do their homework every evening.”
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Have: “They have the plumber fix the sink this morning.”
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Get: “I get my friend to help me with my assignments.”
In these sentences, the Causative Verbs in English describes actions in the present that are either routine or happening right now. Notice how “make” and “have” use the base form of the verb, while “get” uses “to” before the base verb in its structure.
2. Causative Verbs in the Past Tense
In the past tense, Causative Verbs in English follow the same structure but with the past tense of the causative verb (e.g., “made,” “had,” or “got”). The second verb remains in the base form for “make” and “have,” while “get” uses “to” before the verb.
Examples:
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Make: “He made the students write an essay.”
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Have: “She had her car washed last week.”
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Get: “I got my sister to call me yesterday.”
Here, the Causative Verbs in English in the past tense tells us about something that was caused or arranged in the past. The structure remains consistent with the use of base verbs in certain cases, but the causative verb is conjugated according to the tense.
3. Causative Verbs in the Future Tense
When talking about the future, causative verbs are used with the auxiliary verb “will.” The structure remains the same, but “will” precedes the causative verb.
Examples:
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Make: “I will make my brother clean the house tomorrow.”
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Have: “They will have their house renovated next year.”
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Get: “She will get her assistant to prepare the report.”
In the future tense, causative verbs help express actions that will be arranged, forced, or persuaded to happen later. Just like in the past tense, the second verb stays in its base form or uses “to” in the case of “get.”
Causative Verbs in Questions
Causative Verbs in English can be used in questions to inquire about the responsibility for an action. To form questions with causative verbs, we place the auxiliary verb (like “do,” “did,” or “will”) at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject and the causative verb.
1. Questions with “Make”
To ask about an action caused by someone using “make,” the structure is: [Do/Did/Will] + [Subject] + make + [person] + [base form of verb]?
Example:
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“Did the teacher make you finish your homework?”
Here, we ask whether the teacher caused the student to finish the homework.
2. Questions with “Have”
When asking about an action arranged by someone with “have,” use the structure: [Do/Did/Will] + [Subject] + have + [person] + [base form of verb]?
Example:
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“Will they have the workers complete the task by tomorrow?”
This question inquires whether the workers will be arranged to complete the task.
3. Questions with “Get”
When asking about persuading someone with “get,” we use: [Do/Did/Will] + [Subject] + get + [person] + to + [base form of verb]?
Example:
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“Did she get you to help her with the project?”
This structure helps us inquire if the speaker managed to persuade the person to do something.
Causative Verbs in Negatives
Like in questions, Causative Verbs in English can also be used in negative sentences. To form negatives, we place “not” after the auxiliary verb (e.g., “do,” “did,” or “will”).
1. Negative Sentences with “Make”
When negating a causative verb like “make,” the structure is: [Do/Did/Will] + [Subject] + make + [person] + [base form of verb] + not?
Example:
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“He didn’t make them wait for long.”
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In this case, it’s clear that the subject did not force the other person to wait.
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2. Negative Sentences with “Have”
For negating the causative verb “have,” the structure is: [Do/Did/Will] + [Subject] + have + [person] + [base form of verb] + not?
Example:
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“She didn’t have the plumber fix the pipe.”
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The negative form indicates that the action did not happen.
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3. Negative Sentences with “Get”
To form a negative with the verb “get,” use: [Do/Did/Will] + [Subject] + get + [person] + to + [base form of verb] + not?
Example:
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“I didn’t get him to help me.”
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The negative structure suggests that the speaker failed to persuade someone to help.
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Common Mistakes with Causative Verbs in English
While causative verbs are relatively straightforward, learners often make mistakes. Let’s go over some common errors and how to avoid them.
1. Using the Incorrect Form of the Second Verb
One mistake is using the wrong form of the second verb in the causative structure. Remember that after causative verbs like “make” and “have,” the second verb should be in its base form, not the past tense or participle.
Incorrect: “She had him fixed the car.” Correct: “She had him fix the car.”
2. Confusing “Get” with “Have”
Some learners confuse when to use “get” versus “have.” Use “get” when you are persuading someone, and “have” when you are arranging for someone to do something.
Incorrect: “I got my car wash.”
Correct: “I had my car washed.”
Conclusion On Causative Verbs in English
Causative verbs in English are essential for expressing a variety of situations where one person causes, allows, or helps another person to do something. By understanding and using causative verbs correctly, you’ll improve your ability to communicate more clearly and naturally in English.
In this article, we’ve explored the different types of causative verbs, how they’re used in sentences, and provided some common examples. Remember that the choice of causative verb depends on the context—whether you are making, allowing, persuading, or helping someone do something.
Now that you know the basics of causative verbs, start practicing them in your sentences to improve your fluency and enhance your communication skills.