Causative Verbs

The complete guide to verbs that express causing someone else to perform an action

Causative verbs indicate that one person causes another to perform an action. They show that the subject doesn't do the action themselves but arranges for it to be done by someone else.

Why Causative Verbs Matter

Causative verbs are essential for professional communication, academic writing, and everyday situations where you delegate tasks or describe services. They're particularly important for business English, technical writing, and service industry communication.

Quick Examples:
  • I had my car washed. (I paid someone to wash it)
  • She got her nails done. (A manicurist did them)
  • We made the students rewrite the essays. (Forced them to rewrite)
  • They let us leave early. (Gave us permission)
  • He helped me move the furniture. (Assisted with moving)
Key Characteristics:
  • Show action delegation or permission
  • Follow specific grammatical patterns
  • Have different levels of force (make vs. have vs. let)
  • Common in professional and service contexts
  • Often tested in advanced English exams

Core Causative Verbs

1. HAVE (Most Common)

Indicates you arranged for a professional service or asked someone to do something:

Structure: HAVE + object + past participle
  • I had my hair cut yesterday. (A barber did it)
  • She's having her house painted. (Hired painters)
  • We had the documents translated. (Paid a translator)
  • They had their wedding photographed. (Hired a photographer)
  • He had his suit dry-cleaned. (Used a dry-cleaner)

2. GET (More Informal)

Similar to "have" but suggests more effort or persuasion was needed:

Structure: GET + object + past participle/to-infinitive
  • I finally got my computer fixed. (After trying several repair shops)
  • She got her son to clean his room. (Persuaded him)
  • We got the report finished on time. (With difficulty)
  • How did you get that stain removed? (Curious about the method)
  • He got his assistant to prepare the presentation. (Convinced them)

3. MAKE (Force or Compel)

Indicates forcing or requiring someone to do something:

Structure: MAKE + object + base verb
  • The teacher made us redo the assignment. (We had no choice)
  • My boss makes me work late every Friday. (Requires it)
  • The movie made me cry. (Emotional compulsion)
  • They made the contractor fix the mistakes. (Demanded it)
  • Her illness made her cancel the trip. (Forced by circumstances)

4. LET (Allow or Permit)

Indicates giving permission for an action:

Structure: LET + object + base verb
  • My parents let me stay out late. (Gave permission)
  • The manager let us leave early. (Allowed it)
  • I'll let you know tomorrow. (Promise to inform)
  • She doesn't let her kids eat junk food. (Doesn't allow)
  • The system lets users customize their profiles. (Enables)

5. HELP (Assistance)

Indicates assisting with an action (can omit "to"):

Structure: HELP + object + (to) + base verb
  • She helped me (to) move the furniture. (Assisted)
  • This app helps you (to) learn vocabulary. (Facilitates)
  • I'll help you (to) prepare dinner. (Will assist)
  • The guide helped us (to) find the trail. (Aided)
  • Can you help me (to) understand this? (Request)

Detailed Usage Rules

1. HAVE vs. GET

HAVE (Professional/Neutral):
  • I had the package delivered. (Standard service)
  • We have our accounts audited annually. (Routine)
GET (Effort/Persuasion):
  • I finally got my landlord to fix the heater. (After complaints)
  • She got her hair dyed purple. (Unusual request)

2. MAKE vs. LET

MAKE (Force):
  • The law makes companies report emissions. (Requires)
  • My job makes me travel frequently. (No choice)
LET (Allow):
  • The school lets students use the lab after hours. (Permits)
  • Her schedule lets her work from home. (Enables)

3. Tense Formation

Present:
  • She has her car serviced monthly.
  • He makes his team review reports weekly.
Past:
  • I had the locks changed yesterday.
  • They got the roof repaired last summer.
Future:
  • We'll have the results analyzed by experts.
  • She's going to get her passport renewed.

4. Passive Causatives

  • I had my wallet stolen. (Something bad happened)
  • She got her phone hacked. (Unwanted action)
  • We had our flight canceled. (External cause)

5. Negative Forms

  • I didn't let them enter without ID. (Refused permission)
  • She won't have her work criticized. (Won't allow)
  • They never make us work weekends. (Don't force)

Advanced Usage: Nuances and Subtleties

1. HAVE vs. GET (Active vs. Passive)

Active (GET + to-infinitive):
  • I got my assistant to prepare the report. (Persuaded)
  • She got her kids to clean their rooms. (Convinced)
Passive (HAVE/GET + past participle):
  • I had the report prepared. (Neutral)
  • She got the rooms cleaned. (Emphasizes result)

2. MAKE with Emotions

  • The news made me feel anxious. (Emotional effect)
  • His speech made everyone cheer. (Caused reaction)
  • That movie always makes her cry. (Emotional response)

3. LET in Technology Contexts

  • The software lets you edit videos easily. (Enables)
  • This feature lets users share files securely. (Allows)
  • The app doesn't let you save without an account. (Restricts)

4. HAVE in Business Contexts

  • We have our IT systems monitored 24/7. (Professional service)
  • The company has all documents notarized. (Standard procedure)
  • They have their products tested in labs. (Quality control)

5. GET in Problem-Solving

  • How can I get this stain removed? (Seeking solution)
  • We need to get the website working again. (Urgent fix)
  • He got his visa approved after three attempts. (Overcame obstacle)

Causative Verbs in Professional Contexts

1. Business and Management

  • The CEO has reports reviewed by the board monthly.
  • We get our financial statements audited annually.
  • They make employees complete training modules.

2. IT and Technology

  • The admin had the servers rebooted overnight.
  • We got the developers to fix the bugs.
  • This tool lets you automate repetitive tasks.

3. Healthcare

  • Patients have their vitals checked regularly.
  • The doctor got the lab to prioritize the tests.
  • Nurses make patients take medication on schedule.

4. Education

  • Professors have papers submitted electronically.
  • The dean let students retake the exam.
  • Tutors help learners improve their writing skills.

Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

1. Incorrect Verb Form After MAKE/LET

Incorrect:

She made him to clean his room.

Correct:

She made him clean his room.

2. Confusing HAVE and MAKE

Incorrect:

I had my brother drive me to the airport. (If you forced him)

Correct:

I made my brother drive me to the airport. (Forced)

OR: I had my brother drive me... (If he agreed willingly)

3. Omitting Past Participle with HAVE/GET

Incorrect:

I had my car wash yesterday.

Correct:

I had my car washed yesterday.

4. Using Wrong Preposition

Incorrect:

She got her dress cleaned from the dry cleaner.

Correct:

She got her dress cleaned at the dry cleaner.

5. Overusing GET in Formal Writing

Too Informal:

We got the contract signed.

More Formal:

We had the contract signed.

Practice Activities

1. Fill-in-the-Blank

Complete with the correct causative verb form:

  1. I ___ my hair ___ (cut) at the new salon yesterday.
  2. The professor ___ us ___ (rewrite) the essays.
  3. How often do you ___ your car ___ (service)?
  4. They ___ their children ___ (play) outside daily.
  5. We ___ the architect ___ (design) a modern kitchen.
Answers:
  1. had/got...cut
  2. made...rewrite
  3. have/get...serviced
  4. let...play
  5. had/got...to design

2. Error Correction

Fix these causative verb errors:

  1. She made her students to read three chapters.
  2. I got my computer repair last week.
  3. They let us to use the conference room.
  4. We had our documents to translate.
  5. He got his staff working overtime.
Answers:
  1. made her students read
  2. got my computer repaired
  3. let us use
  4. had our documents translated
  5. got his staff to work

3. Professional Scenario Practice

Rewrite these work situations using causative verbs:

  1. A technician serviced our office printers.
  2. The manager requires staff to attend monthly meetings.
  3. The system allows employees to access files remotely.
  4. I asked a designer to create a new logo.
  5. The company requires customers to sign a waiver.
Possible Answers:
  1. We had/got our office printers serviced.
  2. The manager makes staff attend monthly meetings.
  3. The system lets employees access files remotely.
  4. I had/got a designer create a new logo.
  5. The company makes customers sign a waiver.

Final Checklist for Mastery

  • ✓ Can identify all causative verbs (have, get, make, let, help)
  • ✓ Know the correct grammatical structures for each
  • ✓ Understand the nuance between HAVE and GET
  • ✓ Can use causatives in different tenses
  • ✓ Recognize common errors and how to avoid them
  • ✓ Apply causative verbs in professional contexts
  • ✓ Distinguish between active and passive causatives
Pro Tip:

When choosing between HAVE and GET, remember: HAVE is neutral/professional, while GET implies effort or persuasion. In formal writing, prefer HAVE.