Causative Verbs in English Grammar
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Causative Verbs in English Gramma:- Today you are going to learn the most important topic of English Grammar which Causative Verbs.
Causative Verbs
What is Causative Verbs in English?
Causative verbs in English are a type of verb that indicates that someone or something is causing another person to do an action or causing something to happen.
They are used to express the idea that someone makes or enables another person to do something, rather than doing it themselves.
Here are the most common causative verbs in English:
Have
Let
Get
Make
Help
Causative Verbs in English Grammar
1. MAKE
When you use “make” as a causative verb, it means you force or compel someone to do something.
Structure – Subject + make + object + base form of the verb.
Causative Verbs Examples
She made him clean the room.
They made me wait for hours.
My sister always makes me clean her room.
You can’t make me do what I don’t like.
She will make us rewrite these sentences.
According to Tense, you have to change the form of Make. Look at the below examples
Present Simple – Make / Makes
Present Continuous – is / am / are + Making
Present Perfect – Has / Have + Made
Past Simple – Made
Future Simple – will + make
2. HAVE
When you use “Have” as a causative verb, it means you arrange, ask, request or instruct someone to do something for you.
When you have someone do something, it’s like you’re making them do it, but you’re asking or paying them instead. Usually, the person doesn’t have much of a choice and agrees to do what you ask because they either get paid or they respect you and don’t want to say “no.”
Structure:-1. Subject + Have + Object (Doer) + V1
Examples:
I will have doctor remove my teeth.
I had Rohan pay my bill last night.
She has her sister cut her hair.
I will have Radha show you my company.
Note:- एक बात ध्यान देने वाली है कि जब Have के बाद अगर कोई Person है तो इसके बाद Verb की Base Form का प्रयोग होगा, तब इसे Active Voice कहा जाता है। लेकिन अगर Have के बाद कोई Thing हो तो इसके बाद Verb की Third Form का प्रयोग किया जाता है, और यह Passive Voice कहलाता है।
One thing is to be noted that when there is a Person after Have, then Base Form of Verb will be used, then it is called Active Voice. But if there is a Thing after Have, then Third Form of Verb is used after it, and it is called Passive Voice.
Causative Verbs in English Grammar
Structure:-2. Subject + have + object (Not Doer) + V3
Examples:
I have my hair cut twice a week.
I had my car repaired.
He has his hair cut on Sundays.
We had this garbage removed yesterday.
When we use the passive form, we don’t mention the person who does the action for us. Instead, we focus on the thing that the action is being done to. For example, if we say “my hair was cut,” we know that someone did the cutting, but we don’t say who. What’s important is what happened to my hair, not who did it.
| Active voice | Passive voice |
| I have Sohan cut my hair on Sunday. They had Rohan complete their project. I will have Meera check your assignment. | I have my hair cut on Sunday. (by Mohan) They had our project completed. (by Rohan) I will have your assignment checked. (by Meera) |
Note:- According to Tenses, You can change the form of “HAVE”. You can also use some modal verbs according to sense. Look at below Examples.
I have my hair cut on Sunday.
She has her hair cut on Sunday.
I am having my hair cut on Sunday.
I have had my hair cut.
I had my hair cut yesterday.
I will have my hair cut on Sunday.
I may have my hair cut on Sunday.
3. GET
The word “GET” can be used as a causative verb, which means to convince someone to do something or to coax, encourage, or trick someone into doing something.. Sometimes, you might even pay them for doing the action.
Structure 1: Subject + GET + Object (Person) + infinitive (to + V1)
I got Rohan to write this essay. He is good at it.
In the beginning, Rohan was not ready to write this essay. But I convinced him to do that for me.
Examples:-
I got my friend to help me move the furniture.
She got her brother to buy her a new phone.
They got their parents to agree to their vacation plans.
How have you got her to cook food for you? She never cooks at her home.
Structure 2: Subject + GET + Object (thing) + past participle
Examples:-
I got my hair cut at the salon.
He got his car repaired at the mechanic.
We got our house painted last week.
I will get your laptop repaired.
Note:- The Structure number one show the sentence is in the Active Voice and the second one shows that the sentence is in the passive voice.
Look at the below table.
| Active Voice | Passive Voice |
| I got Rohan to write this letter. | I got this letter written. |
| She will get me to do her work. | She will get her work done. |
| I have got the machinic to repair my phone. | I have got my phone repaired. |
| They got Meera to write a book. | They got a book written. |
| I will get her to sing a song. | I will get a song sung. |
Causative Verbs in English Grammar
4. HELP
The verb “help” can also function as a causative verb in certain contexts. When used as a causative verb, it indicates that someone assists or aids another person in performing an action. It implies that the subject provides support or assistance to enable the other person to do something.
Meaning = to aid someone in doing something
Structure: Subject + help + Object (Person) + infinitive or bare infinitive
1. Assisting someone:
I helped my friend clean the house.
She helps her brother with his homework.
They helped their parents prepare dinner.
2. Enabling or supporting someone:
The tutorial video helped me understand the concept.
The new software helped the team work more efficiently.
The scholarship program helps students pursue their education.
Note:- Unlike some other causative verbs, “help” does not carry a sense of force or coercion. It emphasizes providing assistance or support willingly.
4. LET
The verb “let” is used as a causative verb to indicate giving permission or allowing someone to do something. It implies that the subject allows or permits another person to perform an action. Here’s how “let” works as a causative verb:
1. Giving permission:
I let my friend borrow my car.
She lets her children stay up late on weekends.
They let their employees take time off for vacation.
2. Allowing or permitting:
He let me use his laptop for the presentation.
The teacher lets the students choose their own topics for the project.
We let our guests bring their pets to the party.
Using “LET” as a causative verb means that the subject has the authority or control to grant permission. It suggests a willingness to allow someone to do something rather than forcing or instructing them.
It’s important to note that when “LET” is used as a causative verb, the base form of the verb follows it (e.g., let + object + base form of the verb).
Remember, causative verbs like “let” are used to show that someone enables or allows another person to perform an action, rather than doing it themselves.
Other causative verbs
Assist = to help somebody to do something
Force = to make somebody do something forcefully
Pressurize = to persuade somebody to do something, especially by making them feel that they have to or should do it
Require = to make somebody do or have something, especially because it is necessary according to a particular law or set of rules
Convince = to get someone to do something by convincing them
English Grammar in Hindi
Prepositional Phrases in English
List of Stative Verbs with Hindi
Use of LET in English with Hindi
