Difference between revisions of "Causative verbs"

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*你 为什么 不 <em>让</em> 我 去 ?<span class="trans">Why wouldn't you let me go there?</span>
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*你 为什么 不 <em>让</em> 我 去 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishénme bù <em>ràng</em> wǒ qù?</span><span class="trans">Why wouldn't you let me go there?</span>
*他 偷偷 约 别的 女生 吃饭 ,你 <em></em> 我 怎么 想 ?<span class="trans">He secretly asked other girls out for dinner. What do you expect me to think?</span>
 
 
*这 部 电影 <em>让</em> 人 很 感动 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè bù diànyǐng <em>ràng</em> rén hěn gǎndòng.</span><span class="trans">This movie really moves people.</span>
 
*这 部 电影 <em>让</em> 人 很 感动 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè bù diànyǐng <em>ràng</em> rén hěn gǎndòng.</span><span class="trans">This movie really moves people.</span>
 
*那个 老人 <em>让</em> 我 想到 了 我 爷爷 。<span class="pinyin">Nàge lǎorén <em>ràng</em> wǒ xiǎng dào le wǒ yéye.</span><span class="trans">That old man makes me think about my grandpa.</span>
 
*那个 老人 <em>让</em> 我 想到 了 我 爷爷 。<span class="pinyin">Nàge lǎorén <em>ràng</em> wǒ xiǎng dào le wǒ yéye.</span><span class="trans">That old man makes me think about my grandpa.</span>
 
*他 就是 不 听话 ,你 <em>叫</em> 我 怎么办 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā jiùshì bù tīnghuà, nǐ <em>jiào</em> wǒ zěnmebàn?</span><span class="trans">He just wouldn't listen to me. What are you expecting me to do?</span>
 
*他 就是 不 听话 ,你 <em>叫</em> 我 怎么办 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā jiùshì bù tīnghuà, nǐ <em>jiào</em> wǒ zěnmebàn?</span><span class="trans">He just wouldn't listen to me. What are you expecting me to do?</span>
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*他 偷偷 约 别的 女生 吃饭 ,你 <em>叫</em> 我 怎么 想 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā tōutōu yuē bié de nǚshēng chīfàn, nǐ <em>jiào</em> wǒ zěnme xiǎng?</span><span class="trans">He secretly asked other girls out for dinner. What do you expect me to think?</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>
 
*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>

Revision as of 08:36, 3 November 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 + Adv. + Adj.

or

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

Examples

  • 你 为什么 不 我 去 ?Nǐ wèishénme bù ràng wǒ qù?Why wouldn't you let me go there?
  • 这 部 电影 人 很 感动 。Zhè bù diànyǐng ràng rén hěn gǎndòng.This movie really moves people.
  • 那个 老人 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 就是 不 听话 ,你 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?
  • 他 偷偷 约 别的 女生 吃饭 ,你 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 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 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 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

Sources and further reading

Videos

Books