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Causative — Advanced

Causative — Advanced

Reference

Rule Example
makeactive: bare inf · passive: to infmade me go / was made to go
get+ object + to + base (persuasion)got him to apologise
perceptionsee/hear + obj + bare (complete) / -ing (ongoing)saw him leave / leaving
helpflexible: bare inf OR to infhelped me (to) find

Common mistakes

  1. I was made apologise. → I was made to apologise.
    "make" in passive needs "to"
  2. I saw him to leave the building. → I saw him leave the building.
    perception verb + bare infinitive
  3. I got him do my homework. → I got him to do my homework.
    "get" needs "to" with object
  4. I can't help to laugh. → I can't help laughing.
    can't help + -ing (fixed idiom)

Causative — Advanced — Exercises

Choose the causative structure

Circle the correct answer.

  1. My parents _____ me tidy my room every Saturday. (made / got / allowed)
  2. I was made _____ for an hour. (to wait / wait / waiting)
  3. She _____ her daughter stay out until midnight. (let / made / got)
  4. I finally _____ my brother to lend me his bike. (got / made / let)
  5. I saw him _____ the building, so I know he went in. (enter / to enter / entered)
  6. As I walked past, I heard someone _____ the piano. (playing / to play / played)
  7. I can't help _____ when I see that video. (laughing / to laugh / laugh)
  8. He had his car _____ outside the cinema. (stolen / steal / stealing)

Complete with the correct form

Write the missing word or words.

  1. The teacher made us   (rewrite) the essay.
  2. We were made   (rewrite) the essay.
  3. I got the mechanic   (check) the brakes.
  4. I'll have the technician   (fix) it tomorrow.
  5. She helped me   (find) the answer.
  6. The comedian soon had everyone   (laugh).

Causative — Advanced — Answer Key

Choose the causative structure

  1. made — make + object + bare infinitive = force → made.
  2. to wait — make in the passive takes to + infinitive.
  3. let — let + object + bare infinitive = allow → let.
  4. got — get + object + to = persuade → got.
  5. enter — Perception verb + bare infinitive = the whole action → enter.
  6. playing — Perception verb + -ing = part of an action in progress → playing.
  7. laughing — can't help + -ing = can't stop yourself.
  8. stolen — have + object + past participle (unwanted event) → stolen.

Complete with the correct form

  1. rewrite
  2. to rewrite
  3. to check
  4. fix
  5. find
  6. laughing