ESL Lesson Plan: Causative Verbs

G2.1 – Causative Verbs
Lesson 1/1
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ESL Lesson Plan

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A causative is when a subject causes
someone / something else to do something
My brother let
me drive his car.
My brother:
causes the action
to happen
let: the
causative
verb
me: the agent
that is performing
the action
drive: the
action

Common causative verbs are
let, make, have and get
subject (causing the
action to happen)
causative
verb
agent performing
the action
I let her have a cookie before dinner.
They made me do my homework.
I had the painter decorate the house.
I got the mechanic to check the brakes.

Let means
‘to allow someone to do something’
John let me
borrow
some
money.
Will your
parents let
you go to
the party?
subject let agent bare infinitive
I don't know if my
boss will let me take
the day off.

What about you?
When you were a
child, what did your
parents let you do?
Did they let
you stay out
late?
Did they let you
eat whatever you
wanted?
Did they let you
spend time with
your friends on
weekdays?

Complete with a bare infinitive + extra
information if necessary
A B
Her friend let her...
His boss lets
him...
C
His dad won’t let
him...

Allow, permit and enable can be used in a
way similar to let…
Her parents
let her stay
out late.
Her parents
allowed her
to stay out
late.
…but allow, permit and enable are followed by infinitives.
=
Her parents
permitted her
to stay out
late.

Complete with let or allow.
You might need to change the tense
1. She doesn’t _____ her children watch violent movies.
2. Her parents won’t _____ her get a puppy because they are
allergic.
3. The boss _____ his employees to wear jeans on Fridays.
4. The teacher _____ her students to use a dictionary during
the exams.
5. The police officer wouldn’t _____ her enter the building.

Make is used as a causative verb to mean
‘to force someone to do something’
My teacher
made me
apologize for
what I had
said.
She made
her children
do their
homework.
subject make agent bare infinitive

A
B
His parents made...
Her parents made...

A B
The movie made...
Reading the card made...

Force and cause can be used in a way
similar to make…
Her parents
made her
go to
school.
Her parents
forced her
to go to
school.
…but force and cause are followed by infinitives.
=

Choose make or force
6. When they were children, their
parents _____ them wear matching
outfits.
7. She _____ her boyfriend to go with
her to the ballet.
8. The constant stress _____ her to quit
her job.
9. Peter _____ his brother go with him,
so that he wouldn’t be alone.
10.His sense of humor _____ her fall in
love with him.

Have as a causative verb means…
Dr Peterson
had his nurse
take the
patient's
temperature.
Please have
your secretary
email me the
information.
subject have agent bare infinitive
‘to give someone the responsibility to do something.’

It’s common to use have when we talk
about services that are done for us
How often do you
have someone
cut your hair?
How often do you
have someone
wash your car?
Have you ever
had someone
tailor your pants? Have you ever had
someone clean
your house?

Make logical sentences
He had the mechanic…
She had the doctor…
…repair the toilet.
…fix his car.
She had the plumber… …arrange her travel plans.
She had her secretary…
…perform the surgery.

Get can be used in a similar way to have…
I got the
mechanic
to check
my brakes.
I had the
mechanic
check my
brakes.
subject get agent infinitive
…but get is followed by an infinitive.
Get as a causative verb means
‘to convince someone to do something.’
The mechanic didn’t think it
was necessary, but I finally
convinced him to check the
brakes..
I asked the mechanic to
check the brakes.

Choose have or get
11. Susie _________ her son to take the
medicine even though it tasted terrible.
12. Can you _________ your secretary
mail the package as soon as possible?
13. How can parents _________ their
children to read more?
14. The government TV commercials are
trying to _________ people to stop
smoking.
15. She _________ the florist deliver the
flowers to the hospital.

Let, make or have?
16. Sarah requested a copy of that expense report, so I
_________ the courier take one over to her last week.
17. Dan thinks playing video games is a waste of time, so he
won't _______ his children play video games.
18. Mr. Jones ______________ his secretary confirm his
meeting on Thursday with Mrs Keating.
19. Luis ________________ me drive his new BMW. I
couldn't believe how fast it was!

Let, make or have?
20.Tommy didn't want to go to his cousin's birthday party, but
his mom _________ him go.
21. I can't believe the zookeeper ___________ you pet the
monkey. That was so cool!
22. I _____________ the editor recheck the article several
times to avoid any mistakes.
23. Dr. Jackson ____________ the nurse monitor the
patient overnight.

Help can be used as a causative verb with
either structure:
He helped me
to carry the
groceries.
subject help agent bare infinitive
subject help agent infinitive
Exercising
helps me to relax.
He helped me carry
the groceries.
Exercising
helps me relax.
=
=

ESL Lesson Plan: Causative Verbs

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