Causative Verbs - HAVE, GET, MAKE, LET, HELP - English Grammar Lesson (+ Free PDF & Quiz)

Summary

In this video, Lucy returns from her honeymoon and dives into the topic of causative verbs in English, focusing on five key verbs: have, make, get, help, and let. She explains how these verbs are used to describe actions caused by someone or something else, providing examples and grammatical structures for each. Lucy also touches on the differences between formal and informal usage, and includes practical tips to help students master these essential verbs. Additionally, viewers are encouraged to download a free PDF with exercises to reinforce their understanding.

Takeaways

• 😀 Causative verbs (have, make, get, help, let) are used to express that someone or something causes an action to happen.
• 😀 The verb 'have' is used to describe when someone else performs an action for you, often as a service, like 'I had my hair cut.'
• 😀 'Make' is used to indicate forcing someone to do something, like 'She made me watch a horror film.'
• 😀 The verb 'get' is used when you persuade someone to do something, e.g., 'I got my son to cook dinner.'
• 😀 'Help' expresses assistance, as in 'My mom helped me decorate my flat.' It can be used with or without 'to'.
• 😀 'Let' is used when granting permission, as in 'My parents let their grandchildren stay up late.'
• 😀 'Have' can be replaced with 'get' in informal situations, such as 'Tara got her car repaired.'
• 😀 Causative verbs can be used in all tenses, making them versatile for past, present, and future actions.
• 😀 In some sentences, the person performing the action may not be specified, as it's understood or not important (e.g., 'Ben is having his house painted').
• 😀 The structure for causative verbs is consistent: subject + verb (have, make, get, help, let) + object + infinitive or past participle.
• 😀 To reinforce learning, the script includes a downloadable PDF with exercises and a quiz for practice.

Q & A

What are causative verbs and why are they important in English?

Causative verbs are verbs that express the idea of someone or something causing an action to happen. They are important in English because they help convey actions where the subject does not perform the action directly but arranges for someone else to do it.

What are the five causative verbs discussed in the video?

The five causative verbs discussed are *have*, *make*, *get*, *help*, and *let*.

How is *have* used in a causative structure?

When *have* is used as a causative verb, it indicates that someone else performs an action for the subject. The structure is 'subject + have + object + past participle'. For example, 'I had my hair cut.'

How is *get* used differently from *have* in causative sentences?

*Get* is often used in informal situations to indicate that someone was persuaded to do something, while *have* is more formal. The structure for *get* is 'subject + get + person + to + infinitive'. For example, 'I got my son to cook dinner.'

What is the main difference between *make* and *get*?

*Make* is used when someone is forced to do something, while *get* is used when someone is persuaded or convinced to do something. For example, 'She made me watch a horror film' versus 'I got my son to cook dinner.'

What structure does *make* follow in causative sentences?

The structure for *make* in causative sentences is 'subject + make + object + infinitive'. An example is 'She made me watch a horror film.'

What does *let* mean in a causative sentence?

*Let* means to allow or give permission for someone to do something. The structure is 'subject + let + object + infinitive'. For example, 'My parents let their grandchildren stay up late.'

How do you use *help* in a causative structure?

*Help* is used to indicate that someone assists another in performing an action. The structure can be 'subject + help + object + infinitive' or 'subject + help + object + to + infinitive'. An example is 'My mom will help me decorate my flat.'

What tense can causative verbs be used in?

Causative verbs can be used in all tenses, including past, present, and future, by changing only the tense of the causative verb itself.

What did Lucy offer to her viewers to help with learning causative verbs?

Lucy offered a free PDF with a quiz to help viewers practice the causative verbs learned in the video. The PDF can be accessed by signing up for her mailing list.