Lesson 9: Causatives

Understanding Causatives in English: A Comprehensive Explanation

Causative structures in English are used to express the idea that someone arranges for someone else to do something, or that something is done for them. In simpler terms, causatives allow the subject of the sentence to cause an action to happen, without necessarily performing it themselves. This is an important structure to master as it helps convey actions done for the subject by others.

What Are Causatives?

Causatives are sentences in which the subject doesn’t directly perform the action, but instead causes someone else to do it. There are a few key verbs used to form causative sentences, the most common of which are have, get, make, let, and help. The causative structure changes slightly depending on which verb is used.

Causative Structure with "Have" and "Get"

• Have: When using have in the causative, the structure is usually have + object + base verb. This indicates that the subject arranges for someone to do something.

  • Example: "I had my car washed yesterday."
  • Explanation: In this sentence, "I" didn’t wash the car myself, but I arranged for someone else to do it.

• Get: Using get in the causative follows a similar pattern: get + object + past participle. However, get often implies that the subject has persuaded or convinced someone to do something.

  • Example: "She got her brother to fix her computer."
  • Explanation: Here, "She" didn’t fix the computer herself, but she convinced her brother to do it.

Causative Structure with "Make," "Let," and "Help"

• Make: When using make, it implies that the subject forces someone to do something.

  • Example: "The teacher made the students clean the classroom."
  • Explanation: "The teacher" caused the students to clean the classroom by forcing them.

• Let: With let, the subject allows or permits someone to do something.

  • Example: "My parents let me go to the party."
  • Explanation: "My parents" allowed me to go to the party.

• Help: When help is used in a causative structure, it indicates that the subject provided assistance for someone else to do something.

  • Example: "He helped his friend move into the new house."
  • Explanation: "He" assisted his friend in moving to the new house.

Why Use Causatives?

Causatives are useful for emphasizing the relationship between the subject and the action without needing to specify who is directly performing the task. This is particularly helpful in formal or business contexts, where it’s more relevant to know that a task is done than who exactly did it.

Example Sentences and Explanations

1. I had my hair cut last week.
   Explanation: In this example, "I" didn’t cut my hair myself; I arranged for someone else to cut it. The focus is on the fact that I had the action done, rather than the person who did it.

2. She got her house painted.
   Explanation: "She" didn’t paint the house herself. Instead, she arranged or persuaded someone else to do it. The emphasis is on the fact that the house was painted because she made arrangements for it to happen.

Summary

Causatives allow the subject of the sentence to cause an action to happen, without performing it themselves. Common causative verbs include have, get, make, let, and help, each with its own subtle meaning and structure. Causative structures are essential for expressing actions done for the subject, and they help create a more dynamic and flexible way of describing events in English. Mastering causatives will improve your fluency, making your sentences more varied and nuanced.