Difference between revisions of "Causative verbs"
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*我 想 <em>请</em> 你 帮 我 一 个 忙 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng <em>qǐng</em> nǐ bāng wǒ yī gè máng.</span><span class="trans">I want to ask you to do me a favor.</span>
 
*我 想 <em>请</em> 你 帮 我 一 个 忙 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng <em>qǐng</em> nǐ bāng wǒ yī gè máng.</span><span class="trans">I want to ask you to do me a favor.</span>
 
*能 不 能 <em>请</em> 你 明天 照顾 一下 我 的 狗 ？<span class="pinyin">Néng bu néng <em>qǐng</em> nǐ míngtiān zhàogu yīxià wǒ de gǒu?</span><span class="trans">Can I ask you to look after my dog tomorrow?</span>
 
*能 不 能 <em>请</em> 你 明天 照顾 一下 我 的 狗 ？<span class="pinyin">Néng bu néng <em>qǐng</em> nǐ míngtiān zhàogu yīxià wǒ de gǒu?</span><span class="trans">Can I ask you to look after my dog tomorrow?</span>
 +
*老板 决定 <em>请</em> 你 当 主持人 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn juédìng <em>qǐng</em> nǐ dāng zhǔchírén.</span><span class="trans">The boss decided to ask you to be the host.</span>
 
*她 退学 <em>使</em> 她 父母 非常 失望 。<span class="pinyin">Tā tuìxué <em>shǐ</em> tā fùmǔ fēicháng shīwàng.</span><span class="trans">Dropping out of school really disappointed her parents.</span>
 
*她 退学 <em>使</em> 她 父母 非常 失望 。<span class="pinyin">Tā tuìxué <em>shǐ</em> tā fùmǔ fēicháng shīwàng.</span><span class="trans">Dropping out of school really disappointed her parents.</span>
 
*这 件 事 <em>使</em> 我 学到 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>shǐ</em> wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">This piece of matter makes me learn a lot.</span>
 
*这 件 事 <em>使</em> 我 学到 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn shì <em>shǐ</em> wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">This piece of matter makes me learn a lot.</span>

Revision as of 08:42, 30 October 2017

Causative verbs are verbs that cause people to do things. In English, these are verbs like "make," "have" and "get," as in "get Billy to eat dinner." The "get" is the causative verb.

The most common causative verbs in Chinese are:

  • 让 (ràng)
  • 叫 (jiào)
  • 请 (qǐng)
  • 使 (shǐ)

Make sure to take note of the different meanings and levels of formality. For example, 使 (shǐ) and 让 (ràng) when used as causative verbs basically mean the same thing (to make) but 使 (shǐ) is used in more formal or written Chinese while 让 (ràng) is used more in spoken Chinese.

Structure

Subj. + [Causative Verb] + Person + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 让 他 走 ！Ràng tā zǒu!Ask him to leave!
  • 这 部 电影 让 人 很 感动 。Zhè bù diànyǐng ràng rén hěn gǎndòng.This movie really moves people.
  • 那个 老人 让 我 想到 了 我 爷爷 。Nàge lǎorén ràng wǒ xiǎng dào le wǒ yéye.That old man makes me think about my grandpa.
  • 就 这 一点 工资 ，你 叫 我 怎么 活 ？Jiù zhè yīdiǎn gōngzī, nǐ jiào wǒ zěnme huó?Only this little salary. How do you expect me to live?
  • 他 就是 不 听话 ，你 叫 我 怎么办 ？Tā jiùshì bù tīnghuà, nǐ jiào wǒ zěnmebàn?He just wouldn't listen to me. What are you expecting me to do?
  • 我 想 请 你 帮 我 一 个 忙 。Wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ yī gè máng.I want to ask you to do me a favor.
  • 能 不 能 请 你 明天 照顾 一下 我 的 狗 ？Néng bu néng qǐng nǐ míngtiān zhàogu yīxià wǒ de gǒu?Can I ask you to look after my dog tomorrow?
  • 老板 决定 请 你 当 主持人 。Lǎobǎn juédìng qǐng nǐ dāng zhǔchírén.The boss decided to ask you to be the host.
  • 她 退学 使 她 父母 非常 失望 。Tā tuìxué shǐ tā fùmǔ fēicháng shīwàng.Dropping out of school really disappointed her parents.
  • 这 件 事 使 我 学到 了 很 多 。Zhè jiàn shì shǐ wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.This piece of matter makes me learn a lot.

See also

Sources and further reading

Videos

Books


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