Causative verbs

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

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.

See also

• Passive voice

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