Causative — beyond have/get something done

At C1 you master perception verbs with -ing/bare infinitive, complex causative structures, and the subtle distinction between "have someone do" and "have something done".

have/get something done

She had her hair cut. (arranged service)

have someone do

I had the cleaner come at 9. (instruction/arrangement)

get someone to do

I got him to apologise. (persuasion)

make someone do

She made me wait. (force/cause)

Perception verbs + bare infinitive vs -ing

+ bare inf (complete action)

I saw him leave.

whole action witnessed

We heard her sing the song.

+ -ing (action in progress)

I saw him leaving.

caught a moment of it

We heard her singing while we cooked.

Perception verbs: see, hear, watch, notice, observe, feel + object + bare inf (complete) OR + object + -ing (ongoing).

Causative with "make" — passive twist

Active

She made me apologise. (bare infinitive)

Passive

I was made to apologise. (to infinitive returns!)

Active

They made him stay.

Passive

He was made to stay.

"Make" takes bare infinitive in active but "to + infinitive" in passive. This is a famous C1/C2 exam trap.

Help — flexible structure

help + bare inf

She helped me find the answer.

help + to inf

She helped me to find the answer.

help + object + with

She helped me with the project.

can't help + -ing

I can't help laughing. (cannot stop oneself)

Causative with get + ing

Start an action / process

get + ing

Let's get going. (start moving)

get someone + -ing

The teacher got the students talking. (caused/started)

get + object + to + base

I got him to help me. (persuaded)

have + object + -ing

He'll have you laughing in no time. (cause to)

Common mistakes

I was made apologise.

→

I was made to apologise.

"make" in passive needs "to"

I saw him to leave the building.

→

I saw him leave the building.

perception verb + bare infinitive

I got him do my homework.

→

I got him to do my homework.

"get" needs "to" with object

I can't help to laugh.

→

I can't help laughing.

can't help + -ing (fixed idiom)

Your turn

Answer out loud — full sentences

Use make, let, get, have and perception verbs.

What were you made to do as a child that you hated?

Have you ever got someone to change their mind? How?

Describe something you saw someone do — or saw someone doing — recently.

What can't you help doing?

Recap

make

active: bare inf · passive: to inf

made me go / was made to go

get

+ object + to + base (persuasion)

got him to apologise

perception

see/hear + obj + bare (complete) / -ing (ongoing)

saw him leave / leaving

help

flexible: bare inf OR to inf

helped me (to) find

Practice now →

Causative (advanced)