Meaning of Causative Verbs
Causative verbs are verbs used to indicate any action being performed by someone for someone else. They are also known as causal verbs or causatives.
Causative verbs can be in the past, present, or future tense, indicating action that has already happened, is happening, or is yet to happen.
Causative Verbs and Sentence Structure
To construct a grammatically sound sentence, it is necessary to know where to place a causative verb. Below are some sentence structures that are commonly used when a causative verb appears in a sentence:
Structure 1
- Causative verb + object + base form of the verb
- Example: My teacher made me read an entire chapter in one hour.
Structure 2
- Causative verb + object + “to” infinitive + base form of the verb
- Example: The couple got a wedding planner to take care of their wedding preparations.
Structure 3
- Causative verb + object + past participle of the verb
- Example: He will have his car repaired tomorrow.
Commonly Used Causative Verbs With Examples
There are several commonly used causative verbs in the English language. Listed below are some common ones with sentence examples:
Have
Examples:
- Have him call me first thing in the morning.
- I will have my appointment rescheduled to Saturday.
- I had my car washed at the new express car wash service place that opened last month.
- I will have her talk to you at the earliest.
- Tina will have a look at the report and get back in touch with you.
Make
Examples:
- Wendy made a cup of coffee for Tom.
- The kids made their mother a card for her birthday.
- My dad made me clean my room.
- Jim asked Pam to make some chicken soup for him.
- My aunt made a tasty cake for my birthday party.
Cause
Examples:
- His infidelity became the cause for their divorce.
- The wound took time to heal and caused a lot of pain.
- Adjusting to a new schedule as a college freshman caused me tons of stress.
- They’re yet to find out the cause of her death.
- We are not sure what’s causing frequent power outages.
Get
Examples:
- We loved the exotic chocolates Phil got for us.
- Sit down, I’ll get you some water.
- I got my brother to repair the leaky tap.
- Do you want me to get anything for you from Costco?
- Allan got a lovely cake made for Ashley’s birthday.
Let
Examples:
- I don’t let my dog eat at night.
- The teacher let her do whatever she wanted to do.
- Let’s get your phone repaired tomorrow.
- Amanda doesn’t let her kids watch TV at night.
- Let me get the door for you.
Allow
Examples:
- John doesn’t allow his cat to sit on the couch.
- Will you please allow me to talk?
- Jill allowed her kids to play in the pool.
- I’m not sure if I’ll be allowed to attend the party tomorrow.
- My brother hardly allows me to enter his room.
Force
Examples:
- Offer her food if she is hungry, but please don’t force her to eat.
- I’m sorry, my sister forced me to lie to you.
- The witness was forced to tell the truth when the lawyer showed up with valid evidence.
- I was forced to resign from my previous job.
- I dislike dancing, please don’t force me.
Enable
Examples:
- It’s unfortunate that Gina enables Goerge’s bad behavior.
- I need a few tools that will enable me to get the work done.
- The funds granted by the trust enabled us to complete the project.
- The efficient public transportation system enables me to get to work on time everyday.
- He applied for a scholarship, which enabled him to complete his graduation.
Persuade
Examples:
- I will try and persuade Jacob to come see you.
- The sales team successfully persuaded the clients to buy twice as many products.
- Joanna persuaded her daughter to go back to college.
- The coach persuaded the students to participate in the championship league.
- It is a herculean task to persuade John to change his mind. Yet, I’ll try.
To understand how causative words should be used, it is essential to learn all about the rules that relate to their usage, style, and structure.
