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How To Use Causative Verbs in English

This document explains how to use six causative verbs in English - let, make, have, get, help, and allow/permit. It provides the grammatical structures and examples for each verb. Let means to permit something to happen. Make means to force or require someone to take an action. Have means to give someone else responsibility to do something. Get means to convince or encourage someone to do something. Help means to assist someone in doing something. Allow and permit are more formal ways to say "let" and require using "to + verb".

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Eden Low
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82 views

How To Use Causative Verbs in English

This document explains how to use six causative verbs in English - let, make, have, get, help, and allow/permit. It provides the grammatical structures and examples for each verb. Let means to permit something to happen. Make means to force or require someone to take an action. Have means to give someone else responsibility to do something. Get means to convince or encourage someone to do something. Help means to assist someone in doing something. Allow and permit are more formal ways to say "let" and require using "to + verb".

Uploaded by

Eden Low
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOW TO USE CAUSATIVE VERBS IN ENGLISH

LET = PERMIT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN


Grammatical structure:

 LET + PERSON/THING + VERB (base form)


Examples:

 I don’t let my kids watch violent movies.


 Mary’s father won’t let her adopt a puppy because he’s allergic to dogs.
 Our boss doesn’t let us eat lunch at our desks; we have to eat in the cafeteria.
 Oops! I wasn’t paying attention while cooking, and I let the food burn.
 Don’t 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 don’t allow my kids to watch violent movies.


 Our boss doesn’t 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 neighbor’s 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:

 I’ll have my assistant call you to reschedule the appointment.


 The businessman had his secretary make copies of the report.
Examples of grammatical structure #2:

 I’m going to have my hair cut tomorrow.


 We’re 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:

 I’m going to get my hair cut tomorrow.


 We’re 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.

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