USING CAUSATIVE VERBS: LET, MAKE, AND HAVE; USING HELP

LET = Permit
Please let me help you
I let my brother carry my suitcase.

MAKE = Gives the idea that there are no choices, no alternatives

The doctor made the patient stay in bed.
Mrs. Lee made her son clean up his room

HAVE: (both active and passive forms are possible) = ask someone to do something for you

Active: have someone do something

I had the jeweler repair my watch.
Mrs. Crane had someone paint her house.

Passive: Have something done by someone

I had my watch repaired. (by the jeweler)
Mrs. Crane had her house painted.

Let, Have and Make are followed by the simple form of the verb, not an infinitive.

GET: get someone to do something has basically the same meaning as have someone do
something
Active: Get someone to do something
I got my friend to drive to the airport
I had my friend drive me to the airport

Passive : Get something done

I will get the windows cleaned soon.
I got the house painted last year

A. Complete the sentences with the words in parenthesis

1. The doctor made the patient __________________ in bed. (stay)
2. Mrs. Crane had her house __________________ . (paint)
3. The teacher got the class __________________ a 2000 word- research paper. (write)
4. I made my son __________________ the windows before he could go outside to play.
(wash)
5. Don got some kids in the neighborhood __________________ out his garage. (clean)
6. I went to the bank to have a cheque __________________ (cash).
7. Tom had a bad headache yesterday, so he got his twin brother, Tim, ______________
to class for him. The teacher didn’t know the difference.
8. When Scott went shopping, he found a jacket that he really liked. After he had the
sleeves __________________, it fit him perfectly. (shorten)
 9. My boss made me __________________ my report because he wasn’t satisfied with
it. (redo)
10. Alice stopped at the service station to have the tank __________________ (fill)
11. I got Mary __________________ me some money, so I could go to a movie last night.
(lend)
12. Mr. Fields went to a doctor to have the wart on his nose __________________
(remove)
13. Peeling onions always makes me __________________ (cry).
14. Tom Sawyer was supposed to paint the fence, but he didn’t want to do it. He was a
very clever boy. Somehow he got his friends __________________ it for him. (do)
15. We had a professional photographer __________________ pictures of everyone who
participated in our wedding. (take)

B. Answer the following questions by using causatives

1. A hairdresser is cutting Jane’s hair.

What is Jane doing?
She …

2. Ann’s chair was broken, so she took it to the carpenter. Now, it’s fixed/ repaired
What has Ann done?
She…

3. Sam’s eyesight is getting worse. He is going to the optician.

What is Tim going to do there?
He …

4. Tim’s house needs painting. He is calling the painter to paint his house.
What is Tim going to do there?
He …

5. Sarah’s car was out of order. She took her car to the garage.
What has Sarah done?
She…

6. Sarah’s bag was stole on a train. What happened to Sarah?

She…

7. Fred’s hat was blown off in the wind. What happened to Fred?
He …

8. Diana’s passport was taken away from her by the police. What happened to Diana?
She…
Rewrite the sentences below using the structures ‘get someone to do something’ or ‘get
something done’ or ‘have something done’

1. I really wanted my father to buy that car for me. Within a few days I managed to
convince him.
___________________________________________________________________________

2. I asked my friend to make the curtains.

___________________________________________________________________________

3. Jim’s roof was leaking. She called Pete to repair the roof. Now her roof isn’t leaking
___________________________________________________________________________

4. Jane: Her hair has grown long.

Lisa: Yes, it has.
Jane: Why don’t you make a change and shorten it?
Lisa: Yes, that’s a good idea. I will __________________.

5. Tim sent his jacket to the dry-cleaner’s and it looks brand new now.
___________________________________________________________________________

6. Manager: Would you please type this letter for me?

Secretary: Yes, of course.
___________________________________________________________________________