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We use the causative in English to say that we have arranged for someone to do
something for us.
Questions and negations of the verb 'have' are formed with do/does or did in the
past simple.
The causative can be used with most verb forms and is also formed with the
infinitive and -ing forms.
He should have his car repaired. It's worth having his car repaired.
1. Which is correct?
Where can I have my watch fixed? Where can I have fixed my watch?
2. Which is correct?
I wish I need to done my washing by someone. I hate doing it myself.
I wish I could have my laundry done. I hate doing it myself.
3. Which is correct?
Jane is at the hairdresser at the moment. She's having her hair done.
Jane is at the hairdresser at the moment. She has her hair done.
4. Which is correct?
This is the third time I have the air conditioner repaired in four days.
This is the third time I've had the air conditioner repaired in four days.
5. Which is correct?
Joan had made a new dress for the wedding.
Joan had a new dress made for the wedding.
6. Which is correct?
Sarah is going to take her TV to had it repaired.
Sarah is going to take her TV to have it repaired.
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.
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.
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
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
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
We use a causative verb when we want to talk about something that someone else did for
us or for another person. It means that the subject caused the action to happen, but didn't
do it themselves. Maybe they paid, or asked, or persuaded the other person to do it. For
example, we can say:
In a sense, using a causative verb is similar to using a passive. The important thing is that
the house is now clean. We don't focus on who did the cleaning.
We usually use 'have something done' when we are talking about paying someone to do
something for us. It's often used for services. The form is 'subject + have + object + past
participle'.
I had my car washed.
John will have his house painted.
Get + object + past participle (get something done)
We can also use 'subject + get + object + past participle'. This has the same meaning as
'have', but is less formal.
The students get their essays checked.
I'll get my hair cut next week.
He got his washing machine fixed.
We can also use the construction 'subject + have + person + infinitive'. This has a very
similar meaning to 'have something done', which we've already talked about, but this time
we say who did the thing - we talk about the person who we asked to do the thing for us.
I had the electrician look at my broken light.
The doctor will have the nurse call the patients.
The teacher had the students write the answers on the whiteboard.
Get someone to do something (get + person + to + infinitive)
Finally, we can also use the construction 'get + someone + to + infinitive'. Again, this
means that you cause the other person to do the action, maybe by paying them to do it, or
by asking them to do it, or by persuading them to do it.
She gets her son to do his homework by promising him ice cream when he's
finished.
I got the cleaner to clean under the cupboards.
Sometimes, this construction has the feeling that we needed to convince someone to do
something, while the other constructions on this page are neutral.
Causatives Exercise 2
Have someone do something / get someone to do something
Change the sentences so that they use the structure “have someone do something” or
“get someone to do something” start wit the personal peonoun “I”