CAUSATIVE VERBS

CAUSATIVE VERBS


A causative verb expresses a
cause, for example blacken
which means ‘to cause to
become black’


STRATEGIES FOR CAUSATIVE
VERB ITEMS
ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

 Does the subject of the noun clause
that follows the causative verb perform
the action? If so, is the verb after that
noun clause the simple form, the infinitive
form, or the present participle form of the
verb?


INCORRECT [I had my coworker
helped me.]
CORRECT I had my coworker help me.
INCORRECT [I got my coworker help
me.]
CORRECT I got my coworker to me.
INCORRECT [The supervisor had him
stocked shelves all day.]
CORRECT The supervisor had him
stocking shelves all day.

 Does the subject of the noun clause
that follows the causative verb receive the
action? If so, is the verb after that noun
clause the past participle (-ed/-en) form of
the verb?
INCORRECT Mr. Watson wants the
report rewrote soon.]
CORRECT Mr. Watson wants the report
rewritten soon.


STRUCTURES FOR
CAUSATIVE VERBS


(bare infi.)
Ex : I had my wife wash my
clothes
2. To have sth done (p.p)
Ex 2: I had my clothes
washed (by my wife)
3. To have someone doing
sth (V-ing)


4. To get someone to do sth
(to Infi.)
Ex: I got him to finish that

before five.
5. To get sth done (p.p)
Ex: I got that finished (by
him).


6. To want/order + Obj.
(someone/sth) + V (p.p)
Ex: I wanted that report typed by
noon.
Ex: He ordered the area cleared by
Friday.


7. To force someone to do
sth (To Infi.)
Ex: We forced him to go out


8. To make/let someone do
sth (bare infi.)
Ex: He made his son stay at
home


1. The guard made the visitors
...... at the gate.
(A) waiting
(B) waited
(C) to wait

(D) wait (make/let s.o do s.th)


2. My assistant wasn’t able to
get his check ...... because the
bank was closed.
(A) cash
(B) cashed (get s.th done)
(C) cashing
(D) cashes


To cash (a cheque/check) to
exchange a cheque/check for
the amount of money that it is
worth


3. Our company wants its
customers ...... .
(A) satisfies
(B) satisfying
(C) satisfied (want s.b/s.th
done)
(D) satisfy


To satisfy [vn] (not used in the
progressive tenses) to make sb
pleased by doing or giving them

what they want: Nothing satisfies
him—he’s always complaining.
The proposed plan will not satisfy
everyone. Satisfaction (n)

Satisfactory (adj.)


4. I’ll have my secretary ......
for the package.
(A) will sign
(B) signs
(C) sign (have s.b do s.th)
(D) to sign


To sign to write your name on
a document, letter, etc. to
show that you have written it,
that you agree with what it
says, or that it is genuine:
[v, vn] Sign here, please. Sign
your name here, please.


5. Before the prime minister
arrived, the police ordered the
area ...... .
(A) clear
(B) cleared (order/want

s.b/sth done)
(C) clearing
(D) be clear


To clear A (of B) | To clear B
(from/off A) to remove sth
that is not wanted or needed
from a place


6. We forced our
competitors ...... their prices.
(A) to lower
(B) lower
(C) lowered
(D) lowering


Competitor (n) a person or an
organization that competes
against others, especially in
business: our main / major
competitor


To lower to reduce sth or to
become less in value, quality,
etc.: [vn] He lowered his voice
to a whisper. This drug is used

to lower blood pressure.  OPP 
To raise


7. With some effort, Ms.
Manson got her schedule ...... .
(A) to change
(B) changed
(C) change
(D) changing


8. The boss had me ...... all of
last month’s sales figures.
(A) to check
(B) checked
(C) checking
(D) checks