CAUSATIVE VERBS The causative is a common structure in English.

It is used when one thing or person causes another thing or person to do something. This page will explain how causatives are formed, and how to use them. Certain verbs can be used to express a causal relationship between the subject and object in a sentence. Some of them require a "to" while others do not. Note the following patterns:

With "to" S + V + O + to V (O) I allowed Jim to clean up the mess. I asked Jim to clean up the mess. I told Jim to clean up the mess. I persuaded Jim to clean up the mess.*

Without "to" S + V + O + V (O) I let Jim clean up the mess. I had Jim clean up the mess. I made Jim clean up the mess.

*Other verbs which use this pattern are require, command, force, order, remind, and urge. The verb help can be used with or without "to": Help Jim (to) clean up the mess. Some verbs use the pattern, S + V that S + V (the second verb is in the base form)

I insisted that Laura do her homework. I suggested that Laura do her homework. I recommended that Laura do her homework.

(not "does")

*Other verbs which can be used with this pattern are ask, require, request, and demand. The most common error with causatives is using "to" unnecessarily. For example,

We made Kevin to finish his supper. We made Kevin finish his supper. They suggested Irene to take music lessons. They suggested that Irene take music lessons.

(Incorrect) (Correct) (Incorrect) (Correct)

BASIC CAUSATIVE STRUCTURES There are two basic causative structures. One is like an active, and the other is like a passive. These examples use the causative verb "have":

I had John fix the car. (I arranged for the car to be fixed by John -- I caused him to fix it.) I had the car fixed.

(I arranged for the car to be fixed by someone. We don't know who, so this is like a passive.) THE ACTIVE CAUSATIVE STRUCTURE This is the basic structure of the active form, along with some more examples:

Subject
Susan The police We

Subject
had had had

Agent
her brother the suspect the carpenter

Action verb
do stop fix

Object
her homework his car. our window.

THE PASSIVE CAUSATIVE STRUCTURE In the passive form, there is usually no agent. The action verb is in the past participle, and the object comes before it:

Subject
We Yukiko Austin

Causative verb
had had had

Object
our door her hair the windows

Action verb
fixed. cut. cleaned.

OTHER CAUSATIVE VERBS All the examples above use the causative verb "have". However, many other verbs can be used in causatives. In the active form, som of these verbs require the action verb to have "to" before it. These are some examples of the most common causative verbs.

Verb

Meaning

Form of Action Verb

Examples
The robbers made us lie on the floor.

Make

force, compel

plain form

[No passive form] I got Jae Won to pick me up in the car. She got her hair cut. I'll let you borrow my bike. [No passive form]

Get

same as "have"

"to" form

Let

allow

plain form

Make 'Make' as a causative verb expresses the idea that the person requires another person to do something. Construction Chart Subject + Make + Person + Base Form of Verb Examples: Peter made her do her homework. The teacher made the students stay after class. Have 'Have' as a causative verb expresses the idea that the person wants something to be done for them. This causative verb is often used when speaking about various services. There are two forms of the causative verb 'have'. Construction Chart: Use 1 Subject + Have + Person + Base Form of Verb Examples: They had John arrive early. She had her children cook dinner for her. Construction Chart: Use 2 Subject + Have + Object + Past Participle Examples: I had my hair cut last Saturday. She had the car washed at the weekend. Note: This form is similar in meaning to the passive.