What are Causative Verbs? Causative Forms, Causative Verbs Definition and Example Sentences
Table of Contents
Causative Verbs
A causative verb is a verb in English grammar that indicates that someone or something causes—or helps to cause—something to happen. (Create, cause, allow, help, have, enable, retain, hold, let, force, and need) are examples of causative verbs, which are sometimes known as causal verbs or simply causatives.
A causative verb, which may be used in any sense, is usually preceded by an object and another verb form—often an infinitive or a participle—and is used to indicate anything that occurs as a result of the activities of a person, place, or thing.
In English, the term “cause” isn’t the quintessential causative verb since “cause” has a far more specific and less commonly used definition than “create,” which is most commonly used to signify someone making something happen.
Have
Subject + have (any tense) + object (usually person) + base form of verb + . . .
- John had Alex clean the bedroom for the first time.
- My little brother always has me do his work while I was studying.
- My cousin Mary will have Alex prepare her homework for tomorrow night.
Subject + have (any tense) + object (usually thing) + past participle form of verb + . . .
- John’s father had his car washed.
- My little brother always has his work done.
- My cousin May will have her homework prepared.
Get
Subject + get (any tense) + object (usually person) + infinitive + . . .
- John got Alex to clean the bedroom for the first time.
- He always gets me to do his work while I’m working.
- Mary will get Alex to prepare her homework for tomorrow night.
Subject + have (any tense) + object (usually thing) + past participle form of verb + . . .
- John’s father got his car washed.
- My little brother always gets his work done.
- My cousin May will get her homework prepared.
Make
The word “make” is more powerful than “have/get.” Because it does not accept anything ‘passive’ as its object, it simply creates one structure.
Subject + make (any tense) + object (always person) + base form of verb + . . .
- Roger made me beat that poor child.
- My little brother always makes me do his work while I am working.
- My cousin May will make me prepare her homework.
- I made her wash my car today.
- My big sister makes me laugh whenever I am down.
NOTE:
Two additional related verbs are not causal verbs by definition but form similar phrase constructions, according to grammar rules and structures.
Let
Subject + let (any tense) + object (always person) + base form of verb +. . .
- Robert let me escape the prison.
- Let me go.
- Their teacher let the students discuss with each other.
Subject + permit/allow + object + infinitive + . . .
- John’s father allowed him to drive his car.
- She always allows her to do that.
- Their teacher allowed us to sit for the exams wherever we want.
Help
Subject + help (any tense) + object (usually person) + base form of verb +. . .
- Roger helped me to get out of the library.
- She helps me prepare my homework.
- The teacher had helped the students understand an integral formula.
Subject + help + object + infinitive + . . .
- John’s father helped us to lift our car.
- He always helps me to find my phone when I lost it.
- Our teacher helped us to understand the grammar.
