Causative form - Level II

A form of passive voice, causative sentences are those used when the speaker wants to talk about an action done for them or to others by another individual or group; in other words, about an action not done by the speaker. Actions of this sort are usually related to payment (pay), housework (clean, paint, repair) or personal care (hair cut).

In this post we will learn about the causative verbs at level II, so the explanation is in English and the examples shown have an intermediate difficulty.

Structure and uses of the causative form

The causative form primarily uses two verbs to create this type of pseudo-passive voice: have and get. Have is used in the sense of allowing someone to do something; get is less formal but is used in a very similar context although it can also mean to trick someone to do something.

Depending on who or what receives the action, the sentence can be written in different ways.

1. To do or to get something done.

Subject + have/get + object + verb in past participle

• Alan had his car washed the day before to the accident.
• She is getting her hair cut because she wants to look her best at the wedding.

2. To make another do the action.

Subject + have/get + person + (to) + verb in infinitive

• The teacher had the students elaborate passive sentences the whole hour as a punishment.
• Salma will get the gardener to rearrange the entire garden to suit the social gathering

Examples of the causative form

Remember that the structure changes slightly depending on the verb used and how the action is requested.

1. Have something done.

• I had the windows cleaned because they were very filthy but I couldn’t do it myself.
• Sandra had her bills paid by her ex-husband Todd, as he owed her a favour after their divorce.
• Tanya is having her nails painted and trimmed this afternoon in order to look well for the interview.
• I cannot go to the party tonight because I will have the car fixed tomorrow morning.

2. Get something done

• I was getting my hair done when Winnifred called me to tell me about the accident.
• I get my house painted every month or so because those gangs keep leaving rude graffiti on my walls.
• Renly got his new television sent home by the warehouse this afternoon.
• Samantha gets letters every day but she usually throws them into the garbage bin, as she doesn’t like spam mail.

3. Have someone to do something

• I will have the maid clean the guest bathroom as soon as possible.
• William has the veterinarian cut the cat’s nails because she can handle the kitty better than him.
• We are having the gardener trim the bushes because they are getting out of control.
• The twins are having the plumber install a bathtub in that house they are renovating so the selling price is higher.

4. Get someone to do something.

• I got the janitor to tell employees that the bathroom in the fourth floor was flooded and unusable.
• Taylor got Jimmy to do a transference of money so he could finally pay the debt he had.
• Little Sally got her mother to allow her to eat some ice-cream before dinner, but she ended with stomach-ache.
• He is very sick, so I got the doctor to pay him a visit to diagnose his illness and treat him.