Difference between revisions of "Causative verbs"

Revision as of 06:50, 21 December 2017

Level

B1 / HSK3 and HSK4
Level

B1
Level

HSK3, HSK4
Similar to
- Using the verb "jiao" (A1)
- Polite requests with "qing" (A2)
Similar to
- Polite requests with "qing" (HSK1)
- Using the verb "jiao" (HSK1)
Used for

Sentence Patterns, Giving commands
Keywords

让, 叫, 请, 使

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)

Structure

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.

Subj. + [Causative Verb] + Person + Predicate

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

你为什么不让我去？Nǐ wèishénme bù ràng wǒ qù?Why wouldn't you let me go there?
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.
他不听话，你叫我怎么办？Tā bù tīnghuà, nǐ jiào wǒ zěnmebàn?He wouldn't listen to me. What are you expecting me to do?
他偷偷约别的女生吃饭，你叫我怎么想？Tā tōutōu yuē bié de nǚshēng chīfàn, nǐ jiào wǒ zěnme xiǎng?He secretly asked other girls out for dinner. What do you expect me to think?
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.
你的态度使老板很失望。Nǐ de tàidu shǐ lǎobǎn hěn shīwàng.Your attitude really disappointed the boss.
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.

Sources and further reading

Videos

Yoyo Chinese: The word "rang"

Books

Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 170-2) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 120-1) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 19) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 == Structure ==
+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.
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