Causative Verbs

Hello! It's been a while since the last topic I posted. A lot has happened this year, and I'm thankful that things are still pretty manageable in my family and things about my health.

So let's get down to today's topic.

Causative verbs are used to show that the subject, whether a person or a thing, causes something to happen. Examples of causative verbs are allow, cause, enable, force, have, help, hold, keep, let, make, and require.

The following are some of the causative verbs and their uses.

let + [person] + [verb] = the subject allows the person to do something

example: Let them take a break.

Let me help you with that.

Note: Since the two examples start with 'let', the subject is implied as the listener and the speaker is telling the listener to allow the person to do the action.

[Subject] + make + [person] + [adjective] = the subject causes the person to feel something

example: The topic about Italian dishes makes me hungry.

A clown who pulled a prank on my younger brother when he was a child made him terrified of them, so he also avoids watching films with clowns.

[Subject] + make + [person] + [verb] = the subject forces the person to do something. By saying 'force', it means the person has no choice.

example: My husband made Ian go home when he saw his baby brother leaving a trail of muddy footprints.

I never enjoyed getting sick in my childhood even if it meant no school for me because my mom always made me drink the yucky fever and colds medicine.

Note: the pattern can be used for both active and passive voice.

example: (Active sentence) The mother made her children do their homework. --> (Passive sentence) The children were made to do their homework (by their mother).

[Subject] + have + [person] + [verb] = the subject gives the person a task/responsibility

example: The chief will have her residents perform their first operation next month.

The teacher had her students write a 250-word essay on space exploration.

[Subject] + have + [thing] + [verb] = it's similar to the previous pattern [subject] + have + [person] + [verb], but this one focuses on the thing that should be done instead of the person receiving the task.

example: Have the essay turned in by Friday.

She had her dog, Wendy, rushed to the vet after it started convulsing.

[Subject] + get + [person] + [verb] = the subject convinced the person to do something

example: After much negotiation, Myne finally got Benno-san to buy the rights for the hairpin for the price she set. (This is from the OVA, it starts around 18:00)

Since Myne has a weak body, she often gets her older sister and friend make the things she thinks of. (This example is season 1, episode 3, about 3:37)

The samples from the last pattern are from the story Ascendance of a Bookworm. You can go to Muse Asia on Youtube to watch the videos. I caught up to the comic book and anime, so I'm starting to read the light novel version this time.

As always, I hope the patterns I provided and samples given are clear. However, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask by leaving a message on the comment section.

Until next time!