The verbs to have, to get, to let and to make can be used as causative verbs. Subjects in causative verbs don’t perform the action by themselves but someone else does it for them.
1. The verb to have is used when we are talking about paying someone to do something for us. It's often used for services. There are two possible structures:
1) to have + object + the past participle of the verb (this means that someone does something for you because you pay or ask them to do it, but you don’t say who this person is).
Jack had his hair cut.
Sarah didn’t have her teeth checked yesterday.
They had their garage built four years ago.
2) to have + person + the base form of the verb (this means that you force someone to do something for you).
The teacher had the students write an essay.
I will have my manager call you with the details.
2. The verb to get is used to persuade somebody to do something. It has the same meaning as the verb to have, but it is less formal. There are two possible structures:
1) to get + object + the past participle of the verb (this means that someone does something for you because you pay or ask them to do it, but you don’t say who this person is).
They got their house painted last month.
I will get my bike repaired next weekend.
2) to get + person + to-infinitive (this means that you force someone to do something for you)
I will get my brother to give me his laptop.
Our dad got us to wash the car.
3. We use the verb to let to say that we have given permission for somebody to do something. The structure involving this verb is:
to let + person/thing + the base form of the verb
The teacher let Jeremy ask the professor a question.
I don’t let my cat play on the dining table.
Our mother doesn’t let us go on a trip alone.
If we want to make a sentence more formal, the verbs to allow and to permit can be used instead of to let. In this case, we need to remember that these verbs must be followed by a to-infinitive:
to allow/to permit + person/thing + to-infinitive
The teacher permitted Jeremy to ask the professor a question.
I don’t permit my cat to play at the dining table.
Our mother doesn’t permit us to go on a trip alone.
4. We use the verb to make to show that we are forcing someone/something to do something for us. The structure is:
to make + person + the base form of the verb
My teacher made me write seven stories in one month.
The company makes the employees wear a uniform.
If we want to make a sentence more formal, the verbs to require and to force can be used instead of to make. In this case, we need to remember that these verbs must be followed by a to-infinitive:
to require/to force + person + to-infinitive
My teacher forced me to write seven stories in one month.
The company requires the employees to wear a uniform.
