Difference between revisions of "Causative verbs"

Revision as of 09:10, 26 November 2013

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, 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/Pronoun + VO

Examples

老师让我们去图书馆借书。The teacher asked us to go to the library and borrow books.
这部电影很让人很感动。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.
这件事情的解决使他最近轻松了很多。The solution to this problem has made him feel more relaxed these days.
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?
你叫我到哪儿去给你弄这么多钱？Where am I supposed to go and get such a large sum of money?
我请他过来帮我修电脑。I asked him to come and help me fix the computer.

Sources and further reading

Videos

Yoyo Chinese: The word "rang"

Books

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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Grammar Box}} \r\nCausative 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.\r\nThe most common causative verbs in Chinese are:\r\n* 让
+{{Grammar Box}}
+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\r\nMake 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.\r\n== Structure ==\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + Causative verb + Noun/Pronoun + VO\r\n</div>\r\n== Examples ==\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 老师<em>让</em> 我们 去图书馆  借书。<span class="trans">The teacher asked us to go to the library and borrow books.</span>
+* 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 ==
+<div class="jiegou">
+Subject + Causative verb + Noun/Pronoun + VO
+</div>
+== Examples ==
+<div class="liju">
+* 老师<em>让</em> 我们 去图书馆  借书。<span class="trans">The teacher asked us to go to the library and borrow books.</span>
 * 这 部 电影 很 <em>让</em> 人 很 感动。<span class="trans">This movie really moved people.</span>
 * 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>
@@ Line 8: / Line 30: @@
 * 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>
 * 你 <em>叫</em> 我到哪儿去给你弄这么多钱？<span class="trans">Where am I supposed to go and get such a large sum of money?</span>
-* 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>\r\n
+* 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>
-</div>\r\n==See also==\r\n* [[Passive voice]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n===Videos===\r\n* Yoyo Chinese: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qNgtnMWOd8&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD The word "rang"]\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 170-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
+</div>
+==See also==
+* [[Passive voice]]
+== Sources and further reading ==
+===Videos===
+* Yoyo Chinese: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qNgtnMWOd8&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD The word "rang"]
+=== Books ===
+* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 170-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
 * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 120-1) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
-*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 19) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]\r\n
+*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 19) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
 [[Category:B1 grammar points]]
-[[Category:Verbs]]\r\n{{Basic Grammar|让|B1|N1 + 让/叫/请 + N2……|他 <em>让</em> 儿子 看 书。你 为什么 不 <em>让</em> 我 去？|grammar point|ASG5T7XC}}
+[[Category:Verbs]]
+{{Basic Grammar|让|B1|N1 + 让/叫/请 + N2……|他 <em>让</em> 儿子 看 书。你 为什么 不 <em>让</em> 我 去？|grammar point|ASG5T7XC}}
 {{Rel char|叫}}
 {{Rel char|请}}