Difference between revisions of "Causative verbs"
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* 他 <em>让</em> 儿子 看 书。
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* 他 <em>让</em> 儿子 看 书。<span class="trans"He made his son read the book.</span>
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* 这 部 电影 <em>让</em> 人 很 感动。
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* 这 部 电影 <em>让</em> 人 很 感动。<span class="trans">This movie really moved people.</span>
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* 她 退学 的 事情 <em>使</em> 她 父母 非常 失望。
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* 她 退学 的 事情 <em>使</em> 她 父母 非常 失望。<span class="trans">Dropping out of school really disappointed her parents.</span>
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* 就 这么 点儿 工资！ 你 <em>叫</em> 我 怎么 活？
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* 就 这么 点儿 工资！ 你 <em>叫</em> 我 怎么 活？<span class="trans">My salary is so small! How do you expect me to live?</span>
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* 我 <em>请</em> 他 过来 帮 我 修 电脑。
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* 我 <em>请</em> 他 过来 帮 我 修 电脑。<span class="trans">I asked him to come and help me fix the computer.</span>
  
  
 
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==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 06:29, 4 June 2013

Causative verbs are verbs that cause people to do things, surprisingly enough. 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
  • 叫
  • 使
  • 请

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

Structure

Subject + Causative verb + Noun + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 他 让 儿子 看 书。<span class="trans"He made his son read the book.
  • 这 部 电影 让 人 很 感动。This movie really moved people.
  • 她 退学 的 事情 使 她 父母 非常 失望。Dropping out of school really disappointed her parents.
  • 就 这么 点儿 工资！ 你 叫 我 怎么 活？My salary is so small! How do you expect me to live?
  • 我 请 他 过来 帮 我 修 电脑。I asked him to come and help me fix the computer.


See also

Sources and further reading

Books


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