8.4 Causative Verbs

ABOUT YOU What did your parents expect from you when you were growing up? Use each verb to write a sentence with an object + an infinitive. Share your answers with a partner.

1. expect

My parents expected me to be polite.

2. advise

3. permit

4. tell

5. expect

6. encourage

8.4 Causative Verbs

Some verbs are called causative verbs because one person or thing causes, enables, or allows another person or thing to do something.

EXAMPLES

Gates has gotten billionaires to sign the Giving Pledge.

Carnegie persuaded wealthy people to give away their money. You convinced me to help others. Carnegie helped people (to) get an education. Leslie helps girls (to) improve their lives. When Carnegie was a child, he met a rich man who had a small library. This man let children use his library. This man permitted children to use his library. This man allowed children to use his library. This reading made me think about wealth and happiness. No one can make you give to charity. Giving to charity makes me feel good. Warren Buffet had his children sign the Giving Pledge. The teacher had us write an essay about charity. Have means to give a job or task to someone. Have, in this case, is followed by an object + base form.

EXPLANATION

Get, persuade, and convince are followed by an object + infinitive. Get, in this case, means persuade.

After help + object, either the infinitive or the base form can be used. The base form is more common.

Let, permit, and allow have the same meaning. Let is followed by an object + base form. Permit and allow are followed by an object + infinitive.

Make is followed by an object + base form. Make can mean force. Make can mean cause something to happen.

GRAMMAR IN USE Passive sentences can sometimes sound very formal in ordinary conversation. The causative verbs have and get are often used instead.

My car is being repaired next week. I'm having my car repaired next week. / I’m getting my car repaired next week.

EXERCISE 7 Circle the correct verb form to complete each conversation.

1. A: Do you always give to charity?

B: I know I should. But I don’t always do it.

A: Whenever I get a gift in the mail from a charity, I send a check. I think this is a good way to get

people (give/to give).

B: What kind of gifts do you receive in the mail?

A: I often get address labels. Don’t you?

B: Yes, but that doesn’t persuade me (donate/to donate) money. I just use the labels and throw away

the donation envelope.

2. A: I volunteered for the public TV station last month.

B: What did they have you (do/to do)?

A: My job was to address envelopes. It was fun. I met other volunteers. And it made me ( feel/to feel)

good about watching the station.

3. A: I have a doctor’s appointment on Friday, and my car doesn’t work.

B: Let me (drive/to drive) you.

A: I don’t want to bother you.

B: It’s not a bother. I love to volunteer my time.

4. A: When I was a child, my parents gave me money once a week.

B: Did they let you (buy/to buy) whatever you wanted?

A: They allowed me (use/to use) half of the money. They had me (save/to save) the other half.

They convinced me (give/to give) part of my savings to charity.