Overview
This lesson explains causative verbs ("make", "have", "let", "get", "help"), their meanings, and the correct sentence structures for each in the past tense.
Causative Verbs & Meanings
- "Make" means to force someone to do something with no choice.
- "Let" means to give permission or allow someone to do something.
- "Have" means to request or politely instruct someone to do something.
- "Get" means to persuade or convince someone to do something.
- "Help" means to aid or assist someone in doing something.
Sentence Structures
- "Make", "let", and "have" use structure: Subject + causative verb + object + base verb (e.g., "She made me wash").
- "Get" uses structure: Subject + got + object + to + base verb (e.g., "She got me to mow").
- "Help" uses structure: Subject + helped + object + base verb or to + base verb (e.g., "Helped me improve" or "helped me to improve").
Examples
- "She made me wash the dishes." ("forced")
- "My dad let me go by myself." ("allowed")
- "She had the students do the assignment." ("requested")
- "She got me to mow the lawn." ("persuaded")
- "EngVid has helped me improve/to improve my English." ("assisted")
Key Terms & Definitions
- Causative verb — a verb that shows one person causes another to do something.
- Base verb — the infinitive form of a verb without "to" (e.g., "wash", "go").
- Infinitive form — “to” + base verb (e.g., "to mow").
Action Items / Next Steps
- Take the quiz on www.engvid.com to test your understanding of causative verbs.