CAUSATIVE VERBS - HAVE | GET | MAKE | LET - English grammar lesson

Causative Verbs - Introduction

• Causative verbs are have, get, make, and let.

• These verbs have a unique structure and purpose.

"When we use these verbs in a causative way, they have a very unique structure and a special purpose."

Importance of Causative Verbs

• Causative verbs are important because they allow us to communicate when someone else is doing the action but we are in control.

"These look like normal verbs, why are they important?"

Basic Concept of Causative Verbs

• Causative verbs involve not doing the action ourselves, but having someone else do it under our control.

• The structure of causative verbs is: "have/get + something + verb 3 (past participle)."

"Here's a basic concept of causative verbs: You don't do the action, someone else does the action, but you are in control."

Paying for a Service - Have

• When paying for a service, we use "have" to indicate that someone else is performing the action.

• The structure is "have + something + verb 3."

"Paying for a service - have something + verb 3"

Paying for a Service - Get

• "Get" can be used interchangeably with "have" when paying for a service.

• It has a slightly less formal tone compared to "have."

"Paying for a service - get something + verb 3... Have and get mean the same thing. Have is just slightly more formal and get is slightly less formal."

Examples of Paying for a Service

• In the sentence "I have my shirts ironed every week," the emphasis is on paying someone else to do the work.

• In the sentence "I get my shirts ironed every week," the meaning is the same but slightly less formal.

"What's the difference? The first example, I do the work. The second example, I pay for this service. I don't do the work."

Other Examples of Paying for a Service

• Examples include "I get my nails done every week," "I'm having my pool cleaned tomorrow," and "I get all of my meals cooked by my very own chef."

• This structure can be used with any tense or even modal verbs.

"I get my nails done every week. I might have my boat repainted."

Paying for a Service - Grocery Delivery

• Even ordering groceries online and having them delivered can be considered paying for a service.

"Obviously, we don't only use a causative for big, expensive services. For example, groceries. What supermarket do you go to? Uh, I hate food shopping. I just order my groceries online and get them delivered."

Asking, Persuading, Convincing - Have

• When asking, persuading, or convincing someone to do something, we use "have" followed by "verb 1."

• The structure is "have + someone + verb 1."

"Ask, persuade, convince - have someone + verb 1"

Asking, Persuading, Convincing - Get

• "Get" can also be used in the same context as "have," but it implies a stronger need to persuade or convince someone.

"Ask, persuade, convince - get someone to + verb 1... Get has that stronger feeling of needing to convince or persuade someone."

Examples of Asking, Persuading, Convincing

• Examples include "I'll have my brother take a look at my car" and "I can't get my son to sleep."

"Oh, my car has been making this weird noise lately. Really? My brother's a mechanic. I'll have him take a look. I can't get my six-month-old son to sleep. He never sleeps."

Making Someone Do Something

• "Make" implies a stronger level of force and is often used when someone is forced to do something.

"Make someone + verb 1... When we use 'make someone do something,' we're really thinking about forcing someone."

Examples of Making Someone Do Something

• Examples include "The robbers made the security guard give them the code" and "Sometimes my boss makes us work late on Fridays."

"The robbers made the security guard give them the code. Sometimes my boss makes us work late on Fridays."

Giving Permission - Let

• When giving permission to someone to do something, we use "let."

• The structure is "let + someone + verb 1."

"Let someone + verb 1... We're giving someone permission, we're giving someone a choice."

Examples of Giving Permission

• Examples include "My professor let us use our phones during the test" and "My sister lets me borrow her car whenever I need it."

"My professor let us use our phones during the test. My sister lets me borrow her car whenever I need it."

Letting Something Happen

• "Let" can also mean allowing something to happen.

• For example, "When you open a bottle of wine, let it breathe for 30 minutes before drinking."

"Let can also mean to allow something to happen. When you open a bottle of wine, let it breathe for 30 minutes before drinking."

Mini Test on Causative Verbs

• A question is asked to test the understanding of the causative verbs.

"Number one: I _____(verb) next week. A. I'm getting my wisdom teeth removed next week."

Wisdom teeth and their removal

• Wisdom teeth are the large teeth at the back of your mouth that typically grow in during adulthood.

• It is often necessary to have them removed.

"Wisdom teeth are those big teeth at the back of your mouth that you get when you're an adult, and you do need to remove them."

Buying a new washing machine

• Example of using "have" causative verb: I had my landlord buy a new washing machine.

• Option A and B are incorrect structures.

"By the way, I had my landlord buy a new washing machine."

Permission to listen to music at work

• Example of using "let" causative verb: My boss lets me listen to music while I work.

• Options A and C are technically correct but not natural.

"My boss lets me listen to music while I work."

Boss forcing to listen to music

• Example of using "make" causative verb: My boss makes me listen to music.

• Explanation why it is unlikely for a boss to force someone to listen to music.

"My boss makes me listen to music. Why would your boss force you to listen to music?"

Convincing someone to listen to music

• Example of using "get" causative verb: My boss gets me to listen to music.

• Explanation why convincing someone to listen to music is uncommon.

"My boss gets me to listen to music. Again, why would your boss need to convince you to do that?"

Conclusion of the lesson

• Hope that the lesson on the differences between "have," "get," "let," and "make" have been clear.

• Encouragement to leave comments.

"I hope today's lesson was helpful. I hope the differences between have, get, let, and make are clear. You know what? Your comments always make me smile. So leave me one down below. I can't wait to see you soon. Thank you. Bye."