THE CAUSATIVE

 

THE CAUSATIVE

The causative is a grammatical structure used to show that one person causes another person to do something. It is commonly used in English to describe situations where someone is asked or instructed to do something by another person.

The causative can be formed using the verb "have" or "get" followed by the base form of the main verb. The structure "have + object + base form of verb" is used to show that someone is causing another person to do something for them, while the structure "get + object + to + base form of verb" is used to show that someone is causing another person to do something for themselves.

Here are some examples:

• I'll get the waiter to correct the check.
• I'm sure you can get the restaurant to lend you a tie.

In the first sentence, the subject (I) is causing someone else (the waiter) to perform an action (correct the check). By using the causative verb "get", the speaker is indicating that they will ask or instruct the waiter to do something. In the second sentence, the subject (you) is being encouraged to cause someone else (the restaurant) to perform an action (lend a tie). By using the causative verb "get", the speaker is suggesting that it is possible to persuade the restaurant to lend a tie, even if they don't typically offer that service.

Overall, the causative is a useful grammatical structure in English for describing situations where someone is causing another person to do something. By using the verb "have" or "get" followed by the base form of the main verb, speakers can convey complex relationships between people and actions.