CAUSATIVE

The causative is a common structure in English. It is used when one

thing or person causes another thing or person to do something. This
page will explain how causatives are formed, and how to use them.
Basic causative structures
There are two basic causative structures. One is like an active, and the
other is like a passive. These examples use the causative verb "have":
I had John fix the car.
(I arranged for the car to be fixed by John -- I caused him to fix it.)
I had the car fixed.
(I arranged for the car to be fixed by someone. We don't know who, so
this is like a passive.)
The active causative structure
This is the basic structure of the active form, along with some
examples:
Subject

Causative
verb

Agent

Action verb

Object

Susan

had

her brother

do

her homework.

The police

had

the suspect

stop

his car.

We

had

the carpenter

fix

our window.

The passive causative structure

In the passive form, there is usually no agent. The action verb is in the
past participle, and the object comes before it:
Subject

Causative verb

Object

Action verb

We

had

our door

fixed.

Yukiko

had

her hair

cut.

Sanjay

had

the windows

cleaned.
1

Other causative verbs

All the examples above use the causative verb "have". However, many
other verbs can be used in causatives. In the active form, som of these
verbs require the action verb to have "to" before it. These are some
examples of the most common causative verbs.
Verb

Meaning

Form of Action Verb

Examples

make

force,
compel

plain form

The robbers made us lie on the

floor.
[No passive form]

get

same as
"have"

"to" form

I got Jae Won to pick me up in

the car.
She got her hair cut.

let

allow

plain form

I'll let you borrow my bike.

[No passive form]

The verb 'let' in the sentence below works as a Causative Verb

following this pattern: Let someone do something, or, Let + direct
object + verb stem + indirect object.
Other causative verbs:
I let my students use the computers. = I allowed my students to use
the computers.
I had my son draw a picture. = I asked my son (and he accepted) to
draw a picture.
I got my friend to help me. = I persuaded my friend to help me.
I made the dog sleep outside. = I forced the dog to sleep outside.
Note: 'get' follows the pattern: Get someone *TO* do something. The
other three verbs do not need 'to'.

Causative EXERCISES
Please fill in the blanks.
1. The teacher ......... the class stay in late as punishment.
2. She had her daughter .......... the windows because they were so
dirty.
3. I got my colleague to .......... me some money so I could
purchase more shares.
4. You ............ Joanne to cut your hair! She said she wouldn't do
it!
5. The boss ............ the secretary re-type the letter until it was
perfect.
My house is a mess! Please complete the sentences
1. I think the carpenter should fix my door.
I'll .. my door.
2. I think the cleaner should wash my windows.
I'll .. my windows.
3. I think the gardener should cut my grass.
I'll .. my grass.
4. I think the builder should fix my roof.
I'll .. my roof.
5. I think the plumber should mend my tap.
I'll .. my tap.
Get the (a plumber, builder etc.) to + verb
My car is a mess!
1. The tires need replacing.

I'll . tomorrow.

2. The oil needs changing.

I'll tomorrow.

3. The ashtrays need emptying.

I'll tomorrow.

4. The engine needs tuning up.

I'll tomorrow.

5. The brakes need fixing.

I'll tomorrow.

6. The gas tank needs filling.

I'll tomorrow.

Have + object + verb in 3rd form

3

Let / Make / Have / Get

Choose the most suitable causative verb to fill in the blanks.
1. Sam really wanted a dog, but his parents wouldn't ______________
him have a pet.
2. I can't believe she ______________ you look at her vacation pictures
again. We have to look at those stupid pictures every time we go to her
house.
3. I don't know how you convince your children to clean up their rooms.
I couldn't ______________ my children to clean up their rooms if my
life depended on it.
4. Professor Yu ______________ each of her students write an essay
describing their future goals in life.
5. Professor Yu ______________ her students use a dictionary while
they were taking the test.
6. Debbie's husband hates the opera. But after days of nagging, she
finally ______________ him to go see the new production of La
Boheme.
7. Sally ______________ me take off my shoes before I went into her
house. She said she wanted to keep the carpet clean.
8. Rebecca Smith requested a copy of that expense report, so I
______________ the courier take one over to her last week.
9. Diane thinks television is a waste of time, so she won't
______________ her children watch TV.
10. Susie ______________ her son take out the trash before he went to
the park to play soccer.

11. Marcus ______________ me drive his new BMW. I couldn't believe how quickly it
picked up speed.

12. How did you ______________ the doctor to make a house call? I
haven't heard of a doctor actually going to a patient's house in years.
13. My boss ______________ me get him coffee, pick up his dry
cleaning and buy presents for his wife. He can't do anything by himself!
14. Tommy didn't want to go to his cousin's birthday party, but his mom
______________ him go.
15. I can't believe the zoo keeper ______________ you feed the snake.
That was so cool!
16. The contract was very detailed, and it was essential that the
wording be absolutely correct. Therefore, I ______________ the
translator recheck his work several times to make sure there would be
no misunderstandings.
17. Cheryl didn't want to wash her car, so with a little smooth talk she
______________ her boyfriend to wash it for her.
18. If you ask me nicely, I'll ______________ you lick the bowl after I
make the cookies.
19. Jack found a fly floating in his coffee, so he ______________ the
waiter bring him a new cup.
20. The news coverage of the recent tornado was incredibly moving.
The interview with the little boy who lost his family in the tragedy
______________ everyone cry.

Have done
1
cut

The film in my camera is finished. I need to get it ______ .

cleaned
serviced tested
developed

2
My beard is too long. Do you know where I can get it ______?
made
repaired
done
trimmed
developed
3

I need to relax. I'm going to visit a beauty salon and have my nails
______ .
made
repaired taken
trimmed manicured
4 I'll contact my office in Chicago straight away and have the contract
______ through to you.
faxed
repaired
done
trimmed
manicured
5 I'm having my offices ______ by a famous architect.
washed
tested
printed
taken

designed

6 I don't think my eyes are as good as they used to be . I need to have

them ______ .
cut
cleaned
serviced
tested
printed
7 I'm going to the dentist to have a tooth ______ out.
washed
seen
rebuilt
taken

tested

8 I think we can agree on that wording. If you'll wait a few moments, I'll
have the new version ______ up.
washed
typed
rebuilt
trimmed
manicured
9 Don't worry, Mr. Jones. I'll have a replacement printer ______ to you
immediately.
faxed
typed
sent
trimmed
manicured
10 I need some photocopies. Do you know where I can get that ______
around here?
made
repaired
done
tested
developed
11 I'm going to the dentists to have my teeth ______ .
faxed
typed
sent
checked
manicured
12 I need a new suit but I don't like 'off the peg' suits. I'm going to go to a
tailor and have one ______ .
made
cleaned
serviced
tested
developed
6

13 Im going to the photographer to have my photo ______ for the

company newsletter.
Washed
typed
rebuilt
checked
taken
14 My car is making strange noises. I need to have it ______.
cut
cleaned
serviced
taken
printed
15 My car's filthy. Do you know where I can get it ______?
washed
typed
sent
checked
taken
16 There's something wrong with this photocopier. I'm going to have it
______ to.
washed
seen
sent
taken
printed
17 The sole has come off my shoe. I need to get it ______ .
made
repaired
serviced
tested
developed
18 My hair is very untidy. I need to get it ______.
cut
seen
rebuilt
taken

printed

19 Is there a dry cleaning service in this hotel? I need to get my suit

______ .
cut
cleaned
rebuilt
tested
printed
20 The old factory is falling to pieces. We need to have it ______ .
washed
seen
rebuilt
taken
printed

1E

2D

3E

4A

5E

6D

7D

8B

9C

10C

11D 12A 13E 14C 15A 16B 17B 18A 19B 20C