Causatives are verbs that cause people or things to act or change. They range from most forceful (make) to least forceful (let, help). When using causatives like make, get, have, let, or help, avoid using infinitives or -ing forms and instead use a base verb form after the person or thing caused to act. For example, say "make him take the medicine" not "make him to take."

1. Problems With Causatives
Causatives are main verbs that cause people or machines to
do things or cause things to change. They are listed below in
order of the most forceful to the least forceful:
make
get
have
let
help
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2. problem 16
Causative MAKE
Remember that MAKE can be used as a causative. In a causative,
a person does not perform an action directly. The person causes
it to happen by forcing another person to do it.
S
His mother
S
I
MAKE
made
someone
him
verb word
take
his medicine
MAKE
something
verb word
made
the machine
work
Avoid using an infinitive or an –ing form instead of a verb
word after a person or thing in a causative with MAKE.

3. EXAMPLES
incorrect: She made the baby to take a nap.
correct: She made the baby take a nap .
incorrect: Professor Rogers didn't make us typed up our lab
reports.
correct: Professor Rogers didn't make us type up our lab reports.
incorrect: Are you going to make your daughter to work part time
in the store this summer?
correct: Are you going to make your daughter work part time in
the store this summer?
incorrect: I can't seem to make this dishwasher running.
correct: I can't seem to make this dishwasher run.
incorrect: Patsy makes everyone doing his share around the house.
correct: Patsy makes everyone do his share around the house.

4. Exercises
Part A: Choose the correct answer.
Psychologists believe that incentives ______to increase
our productivity.
(A) make us want
(B) make us to want
(C) making us want
(D) makes us wanting

5. Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.
Too much water makes plants turning brown on the edges of
(A)
(B)
(C)
turn
their leaves.
(D)

6. Causative GET
Remember that GET can be used as a causative. In a causative, a
person does not perform an action directly.
GET has less force and authority than MAKE.
GET
Let's get
GET
Let's get
somebody
to do
Ralph
to go
something
done
our car
fixed
with us
first
Avoid using a verb word instead of an infinitive after a person
in a causative with GET. Avoid using a verb word instead of a
participle after things in a causative with GET.

7. Examples
incorrect: Do you think we can get Karen takes us to San Diego?
correct: Do you think that we can get Karen to take us to San Diego?
incorrect: I want to get the house paint before winter.
correct: I want to get the house painted before winter.
incorrect: Let's get some of our money exchange for dollars.
correct: Let's get some of our money exchanged for dollars.
incorrect: Nora got her mother's wedding dress to alter so that it fit
perfectly.
correct: Nora got her mother's wedding dress altered so that it fit
perfectly.

8. incorrect: We will have to get someone fixing the phone right away.
correct: We will have to get someone to fix the phone right away.

9. Exercises
Part A: Choose the correct answer.
Lobbyists who represent special interest groups get
______ that benefits their groups.
(A) Congress to pass the legislation
(B) Congress passed the legislation
(C) the legislation to pass by Congress
(D) the legislation that Congress passing

10. Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.
In order to receive full reimbursement for jewelry that might
(A)
be stolen, the owner must get all pieces appraise.
(B)
(C)
(D)
appraised

11. Causative HAVE
Remember that HAVE can be used as a causative. In a causative,
a person does not perform an action directly.
HAVE has even less force and authority than GET.
S
have
My English teacher
S
I
have
want to have
had
someone
us
verb word
give
something
participle
this book
renewed,
oral reports
please
Avoid using an infinitive or an -ing form instead of a verb word
after a person in a causative with HAVE. Avoid using a verb word
or an infinitive instead of a participle after a thing in a causative
with HAVE.

12. Examples
incorrect: Tom had a tooth fill.
correct: Tom had a tooth filled.
incorrect: Have you had your temperature taking yet?
correct: Have you had your temperature taken yet?
incorrect: They had their lawyer to change their wills.
correct: They had their lawyer change their wills.
incorrect: I like the way you had the beautician done your hair.
correct: I like the way you had the beautician do your hair.
incorrect: We are going to have our car fix before we go to
Toronto.
correct: We are going to have our car fixed before we go to
Toronto.

13. Exercises
Part A: Choose the correct answer.
Like humans, zoo animals must have a dentist _______
their teeth.
(A) fill
(B) filled
(C) filling
(D) to be filled

14. Part B: Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.
Most presidential candidates have their names print on the ballot
(A)
printed
in the New Hampshire primary election because it is
(B)
customarily the first one in the nation, and winning it can give
(C)
(D)
them a good chance to be nominated by their parties.

15. Causative LET
Remember that LET can be used as a causative. In a causative, a
person does not perform an action directly. With LET, a person
gives permission for another person to do it.
S
LET
someone
verb word
His mother
let
S
LET
I
am letting
him
go
to school
something
verb word
this machine
cool
Avoid using an infinitive or an -ing form instead of a verb
word after a person or thing in a causative with LET.

16. Examples
incorrect: Professor Baker let us to write a paper instead of
taking a final exam.
correct: Professor Baker let us write a paper instead of taking
a final exam.
incorrect: When I was learning to drive, my Dad let me using
his car.
correct: When I was learning to drive, my Dad let me use his car.
incorrect: Would you let us the borrow your notes?
correct: Would you let us borrow your notes?
incorrect: Larry is so good-hearted, he lets people took advantage
of him.
correct: Larry is so good-hearted, he lets people take advantage of
him.

17. incorrect: Don't let that bothers you.
correct: Don't let that bother you.
Exercises
Part A: Choose the correct answer.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service often
_______ their visas if they fill out the appropriate
papers.
(A) lets students extend
(B) lets students for extend
(C) letting students to extend
(D) let students extending

18. Part B; Choose the incorrect word or phrase and correct it.
The National Basketball Association will not let any athlete
to continue playing in the league unless he submits
continue
(A)
(B)
voluntarily to treatment for drug addiction.
(C)
(D)

19. Causative HELP
Remember that HELP can be used as a causative. In a
causative, a person does not perform an action directly. With
HELP, a person assists another person to do it.
S
HELP
someone
verb word or
infinitive
He
is helping
me
type
my paper
He
is helping
me
to type
my paper
Avoid using an -ing form instead of a verb word or an
infinitive after a person in a causative with HELP.

20. Examples
incorrect: Her husband always helps her that she does the laundry.
correct: Her husband always helps her do the laundry.
or
Her husband always helps her to do the laundry.
incorrect: Don't you help each other the study for tests?
correct: Don't you help each other study for tests?
or
Don't you help each other to study for tests?
incorrect: My teacher helped me getting this job.
correct: My teacher helped me get this job.
or
My teacher helped me to get this job.
incorrect: Bob said that he would help our finding the place.
correct: Bob said that he would help us find the place.
or
Bob said that he would help us to find the place.

21. incorrect: This book should help you understanding the lecture.
correct: This book should help you understand the lecture.
or
This book should help you to understand the lecture.

22. Exercises
Part A: Choose the correct answer.
In partnership with John D. Rockefeller, Henry Flager
______ the Standard Oil Company.
(A) helped forming
(B) helped form
(C) he helped form
(D) helping to form