Causative Verbs

One person causes a second person to do something

 HAVE/ GET
(1) ACTIVE
Subject + have (any tense) + complement (usually person) + verb in simple form...

(2) ACTIVE
Subject + get (any tense) + complement (usually person) + verb in infinitive...

(3) PASSIVE
Subject + have/get (any tense) + complement (usually thing) + verb in past
participle...

EXAMPLES
1. Mary had John wash the car.
2. Mary got John to wash the car.
3. Mary got the car washed.
Mary had the car washed.
 Another Examples

Active clauses
1. The president had his advisors arrange a press
conference.
2. George is getting his teachers to give him a make-up
exam.
3. Mary has had a friend type all of her papers.
4. John is having his father contact the officials.
 Examples of Passive Clauses

1. James has his shirts cleaned at the drycleaners.

2. Pat is having her car repaired this week.
3. Anna got her paper typed by a friend.
4. The president is having a press conference arranged
by his advisors
5. Ricky was having his hair cut when John called.
 MAKE
make can be followed by only by a clause in the active voice. It is stronger
than have or get. It means force

Subject + make (any tense) + complement + verb in simple form...

The robber made the teller give him the money.

(the robber forced the teller to give him the money

Note: force + complement + verb in infinitive

The manager make the salesman attend the conference.

The president is making his cabinet members sign this document.
The teacher had made the children stay in their seats.
 LET
Let is usually added to the list of causatives in grammar. It is not actually causative.
It means allow or permit

Subject + let + complement + verb in simple form

Subject + permit/ allow + complement + verb in infinitive

NOTE: Let is not INTERCHANGEABLE WITH leave, which means to go away

John let his daughter swim with her friends.

(John allowed his daughter to swim with his friends.)
(John permitted his daughter to swim with his friends.)
Dr. Jones is letting the students hand in the papers on Monday.
We are going to let her write the letter.
Mr. Brown always lets his children watch cartoons on Saturday mornings.
 HELP
help is not actually a causative verb either, but is generally considered with
causative verbs in grammar. It is usually followed by the simple form, but can be
folowed by the infinitive in some cases. It means assist.

Subject + help + complement + verb in simple form/ verb in infinitive

John helped Mary wash the dishes.

George helped the old woman with the packages (to) find a taxi.
 Exercise

1. The teacher made Juan___ (leave) the room.

2. Lexa had her car____ (repair) by a machine.
3. Ellen got Marvin____ (type) her paper.
4. I made Jane____(call) her friend on the telephone.
5. We got our house____ (paint) last week.
6. Dr. Byrd is having the students___ (write) a composition.
7. The policemen made the suspect___ (lie) on the ground.
8. Mark got his transcripts___ (send) to the university.
9. Maria is getting her hair____ (cut) tomorrow.
10. We will have to get the Dean_____ (sign) this form.