Causative verbs are a small number of verbs that are used to indicate that one person or thing causes another person or thing to perform an action or be in a certain state. Instead of doing the action themselves, the subject is causing someone else to do it. These verbs suggest that the subject has some influence or control over the action being carried out.
Common causative verbs
The most frequently used causative verbs in English are:
1. Make – implies force or strong influence.
- The teacher made the students do their homework.
The students were compelled to do their homework by the teacher.
2. Have – implies giving permission or arranging for someone to do something.
- She had the mechanic fix her car.
She arranged for the mechanic to fix the car.
3. Get – implies persuading or convincing someone to do something.
- He got his friend to help him move.
He persuaded his friend to help.
4. Let – implies allowing or giving permission.
- Her parents let her go to the party.
Her parents gave her permission to go.
Structure of causative verbs
The structure of causative verbs varies depending on which verb is used:
Make + person + root form of the verb
- The coach made the players run laps.
Have + person + root form of the verb
- She had the assistant prepare the documents.
Get + person + to + root form of the verb
- He got his friend to lend him some money.
Let + person + root form of the verb
- They let the children stay up late.
“Help” as a causative verb
“Help“ can function as a causative verb in some contexts. A causative verb indicates that someone or something causes another person or thing to do something, and in sentences with “help”, the subject causes another person to perform an action by assisting them. While “help” is not a typical causative verb, it does share causative properties because it involves causing or enabling an action.
The structure of “help” as a causative verb is unique because it can take the bare infinitive or the “to” infinitive:
- She helped me complete the project.
- She helped me to complete the project.
Both of the above examples are equally correct.
Causative verbs with auxiliary verbs
Similar to auxiliary verbs, the main verb with a causative verb retains its root form. However, causative verbs are not auxiliary verbs, and indeed, auxiliary verbs can be used with causative verbs as in the following examples:
- I won’t help to clean the windows.
- I might let her bake the cake.
- You should make your bed.
Passive form of causative verbs
Causative verbs can also be used in the passive voice, which is often used in declarative sentence types to emphasise the action upon the direct object of a sentence rather than rather than the subject or actor of the action.
Have + object + past participle
- She had her hair cut.
Someone else did the cutting.
Get + object + past participle
- He got his car repaired.
Someone else performed the repair.
Uses of causative verbs
Causative verbs are commonly used to:
Express authority or control:
- The boss made the employee work late.
Indicate arrangement or delegation:
- She had her assistant book the flight.
Show persuasion or encouragement:
- He got his brother to join the gym.
Grant permission or allowance:
- They let the children play outside.
Conclusion
In summary, causative verbs shift the focus from who is performing an action to who is causing an action to happen. Causative verbs are a small group of additional verbs that are placed in a sentence before the main verb and after an auxiliary verb if one is present.
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https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english