Causative Verbs in English: Let,

Make, Have, Get, Help

The English verbs let, make, have, get, and help are called causative
verbs because they cause something else to happen.
Here are some specific examples of how causative verbs work in English
sentences.

How to use causative verbs in English

LET = permit something to happen
Grammatical structure:

LET + PERSON/THING + VERB (base form)

Examples:

I dont let my kids watch violent movies.

Marys father wont let her adopt a puppy because hes allergic to
dogs.

Our boss doesnt let us eat lunch at our desks; we have to eat in the
cafeteria.

Oops! I wasnt paying attention while cooking, and I let the food burn.

Dont let the advertising expenses surpass $1000.

Remember: The past tense of let is also let; there is no change!

Note: The verbs allow and permit are more formal ways to say let.
However, with allow and permit, we use to + verb:

I dont allow my kids to watch violent movies.

Our boss doesnt permit us to eat lunch at our desks.

MAKE = force or require someone to take

an action
Grammatical structure:
MAKE + PERSON + VERB (base form)

Examples:
After Billy broke the neighbors window, his parents made him pay for

it.

My ex-boyfriend loved sci-fi and made me watch every episode of

his favorite show.

The teacher made all the students rewrite their papers, because the
first drafts were not acceptable.

Note: When using the verbs force and require, we must use to + verb.

The school requires the students to wear uniforms.

Require often implies that there is a rule.

The hijacker forced the pilots to take the plane in a different

direction.
Force often implies violence, threats, or extremely strong pressure

HAVE = give someone else the

responsibility to do something
Grammatical structure:

HAVE + PERSON + VERB (base form)

HAVE + THING + PAST PARTICIPLE OF VERB

Examples of grammatical structure #1:

Ill have my assistant call you to reschedule the appointment.

The businessman had his secretary make copies of the report.

Examples of grammatical structure #2:

Im going to have my hair cut tomorrow.

Were having our house painted this weekend.

Bob had his teeth whitened; his smile looks great!

My washing machine is broken; I need to have it repaired.

Note: In informal speech, we often use get in these cases:

Im going to get my hair cut tomorrow.

Were getting our house painted this weekend.

Bob got his teeth whitened; his smile looks great!

My washing machine is broken; I need to get it repaired.

GET = convince/encourage someone to do

something
Grammatical structure:

GET + PERSON + TO + VERB

Examples:

How can we get all the employees to arrive on time?

My husband hates housework; I can never get him to wash the

dishes!

I was nervous about eating sushi, but my brother got me to try it at a

Japanese restaurant.

The non-profit got a professional photographer to take photos at the

event for free.

HELP = assist someone in doing something

Grammatical structure:

HELP + PERSON + VERB (base form)

HELP + PERSON + TO + VERB

After help, you can use to or not both ways are correct. In general, the
form without to is more common:

He helped me carry the boxes.

He helped me to carry the boxes.

Reading before bed helps me relax.

Reading before bed helps me to relax.

A. Active Causative

Verbs that take active forms of causative are Let, Make, Have, and Get
Let
Let is used when we want to allow someone to do something.
Pattern

let

agent

verb

Example:
She lets me borrow her book.
explanation:

let

She

lets

agent

me

verb

borrow

her book.

Make
Make is used when we want to force someone to do something.

Pattern

make

agent

verb

Example:
My mother makes me do my home work.
explanation:

make

My mother

makes

agent

verb

me

do

my homework.

Have
Have is used when we want to give someone the responsbility to do something.
Pattern

have

agent

verb

Example:
My English teacher has me do the homework in a week.
explanation:

have/has

My English
teacher
Get

has

agent

me

verb

do

the home work in a week.

Get is used when we want to convince to do something or to trick someone into doing
something.
Pattern

get

agent

to

verb

Example:
My friends get me to take the test.
explanation:

get

My friends

get

agent

me

to

to

verb

take

the quiz.

Get vs. Have

Sometimes "get someone to do something" is interchangeable with "have someone do
something," but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing.
Examples:
My friends get me to take the test.
It can be meant that I am actually not encouraged to take the test, but my friends convince
me to take that.
My friends have me take the test.
It means that my friends ask me to take the quiz.

B. Passive Causative

There are two verbs generally used in the passive causative form; they are Have and
Get. In addition, there is usually no agent in this form; it's not like in active form which has
the agent. The action verb is in the past participle, and the object comes before it. The
difference between have and get in this passive causative form is the same like in active
causative form explained aboved.

Pattern

Subject

Have/Get

Object

Past Participle

Examples:

I ask someone to fix my car.

= I have my car fixed.

She asked John to wash the plate.

= She got the plate washed.

Exception

But, if the verb get followed by personal nouns, past participle can't be used in it.
Instead, we must use to infinitive. So it will become just like in active causative form.

Pattern

Subject

Get

Object (personal noun)

I get the house painted

I get John to paint the house.

to

verb

In addition, modal auxiliary verbs may be used with the causative sentence
structure. Most often, modals express a suggestion by the speaker, such as:

You should have your hair cut.

He should get his decision changed

She will have the food cooked.

Need & Want

Need and want may be used in passive causative sentences. In some cases, the
passive causative verb (had/got) may be dropped altogether.??

I need/want to have my hair cut.

I need/want my hair cut.