Causative Verbs

What is causative verb?

A causative verb shows that one person makes another person do something. They also show that one person makes something happen.

3 types:

Causative verb + base verb
Causative verb + to + infinitive
Causative verb + past participle

Causative verb + base verb

When the causative werb shows that one person makes another person do something, the causative verb is followd by the simple form.

causative verb	noun phrase	causative verb	noun (person)	base verb	noun phrase
make, get, have	The boss	made, will make, had made	the staff	work	on Saturday.

Causative verb + to + infinitive

When the causative verb shows that one person makes another person do something, the causative verb can also be followed by the infinitive verb (depends on the verb).

causative verb	noun phrase	causative verb	noun (person)	base verb	noun phrase
get, want, order, permit	The boss	go, will get, had got	the staff	to work	on Saturday.

Causative verb + past participle

When the causative verb shows that one person makes something happen, the causative verb is followed by the past participle.

causative verb	noun phrase	causative verb	noun (person)	base verb
get, have, want	Mary	go, will get, had got	the meeting	rescheduled.

Quick List


have	to have	s/o	base verb
	to have	s/o	pp
get	to get	s/o	to + inf
	to get	s/t	pp
make	to make	s/o	base verb
	to make	s/t	base verb
	to make	s/o	adj
let	to let	s/o	base verb
	to let	s/t	base verb
allow/permit	to allow/permit	s/o	to + inf
	to allow/permit	s/t	to + inf
want	to want	s/o	to + inf
	to want	s/t	pp / (to be + pp)
order	to order	s/o	to + inf
	to order	s/t	pp / (to be + pp)
suggest, recommand, insist, demand, request	to suggest, recommand, insist, demand, request	s/o, NCM* + S	to + inf, base verb

NCM: Noun Relative Marker (that, what, which, where, when, why, who...)

Important note

Remember that sometimes things are actually referred to as people:

The director had the whole department work on Sunday.

Verbs of Perception

Eyes

see
look at (+ s/o + base verb or ~ing)
watch
glance
stare at

When we use these verbs of perception, both structures are possible.

I saw John walking down the street.

I saw John walk down the street.
We watched them playing tennis.

We watched them play tennis.

Ears

hear
overhear
listen to
+ s/o + V1 or ~ing