Causative verbs: Let / Make / Have / Get

Causative verbs show us that some person or thing helps to make something happen; they express what causes an action to happen.

Let

FORM

[let + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to allow someone to do something."

Examples:

• John let me drive his new car.
• Will your parents let you go to the party?
• I don't know if my boss will let me take the day off.

Make

FORM

[make + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to force someone to do something."

Examples:

• My teacher made me apologize for what I had said.
• Did somebody make you wear that ugly hat?
• She made her children do their homework.

Have

FORM

[have + person + verb]

USE

This construction means "to give someone the responsibility to do something."

Examples:

• Dr. Smith had his nurse take the patient's temperature.
• Please have your secretary fax me the information.
• I had the mechanic check the brakes.

Get

FORM

[get + person + to + verb]

USE

This construction usually means "to convince to do something" or "to trick someone into doing something."

Examples:

• Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible.
• How can parents get their children to read more?
• The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop smoking.

Summary

share this article to: Facebook Twitter Google+ Linkedin Technorati Digg

Posted by Unknown, Published at 00:44 and have 0 comments