Causative Verb Definition, Rules & Types

Causative Verb: A verb that is used to express that someone causes someone else to do something or causes something to happen.

According to uses causative is many divided into three part-

• Double Party Causative
• Triple Party Causative
• Multiple Party Causative

1. Double Party Causative

Double Party Causative: A construction in which one subject causes a second party to perform an action, which results in a third party or entity performing another action. It involves two stages of causation.

Key Features:

1. First Party (Causer): Initiates the causative action or arrangement.
2. Second Party (Intermediary): Performs the initial action or task.
3. Third Party (Recipient or Final Action): Experiences or carries out the subsequent action resulting from the second party’s actions.

Note: Keep in mind that double party causative (object + V1) structure is used even after let, set, hear (sunna), see, notice (attention), hell, etc. verbs.

Example: I can’t let you go. / He set me free. / I heart in sing a song.

I had John wash the car.

• (I caused John to perform the action of washing the car.)

She got Mike to fix the leaky faucet.

• (She caused Mike to perform the action of fixing the leaky faucet.)

They had their neighbor mow the lawn.

• (They caused their neighbor to perform the action of mowing the lawn.)

He made his assistant deliver the package.

• (He caused his assistant to perform the action of delivering the package.)

We got the team to finish the report.

• (We caused the team to perform the action of finishing the report.)

2. Triple Party Causative

Triple Party Causative: A construction in which one subject causes a second party to perform an action, which then causes a third party to execute a subsequent action or achieve a final result. This involves three levels of causation.

Key Features:

1. First Party (Causer): Initiates or arranges the overall sequence of actions.
2. Second Party (Intermediary): Performs the initial action as directed by the first party.
3. Third Party (Recipient or Final Action): Experiences or performs the subsequent action as a result of the second party’s actions.

Example: He gets me beaten in the class.

• He kept getting me beaten in the class.
• He can get me beaten in the class.
• He will get me beaten in the class.
• He can get me beaten in the class.

3. Multiple Party Causative

Multiple Party Causative: A grammatical structure where one subject causes multiple actions to be performed by different parties, or causes one party to arrange for another party to perform an action.

Key Features:

1. First Party: Initiates the causative action or makes arrangements.
2. Second Party: Performs the initial action.
3. Third Party: May be involved in performing a subsequent action or review.

Example:

• He gets me a job.
• He is getting me a job by recommending.

Read Also:

• Present Indefinite Tense: How To Use It, With Example
• Type Of Conjunction: Definition, Rules & Examples
• Type Of Noun Based On Gender