Causative verbs inglese PDF

Preview

Summary

Download Causative verbs inglese PDF

Description

Causative verbs A causative form is used when the subject of the sentence is not the person doing the action of the verb, but is causing someone else to do it. There are two basic causative structures.

ACTIVE

I had John fix the car. (I arranged for the car to be fixed by John – I caused him to fix it.) I had the car fixed. (I arranged for the car to be fixed by someone.)

PASSIVE *Because we don’t know who did it, this is a passive construction.

THE ACTIVE CAUSATIVE STRUCTURE

subject

causative verb

agent

action verb

object

Jane

had

Richard

clean

the carpet.

The dentist

had

her patient

open

his mouth.

They

had

a plumber

fix

the shower.

THE PASSIVE CAUSATIVE STRUCTURE

1

subject

causative verb

object

action verb

agent (optional)

Jane

had

the carpet

cleaned

(by Richard).

They

had

the shower

fixed

(by a plumber).

Esempio: The carpet was cleaned (by Richard).

(normal passive)

Jane had the carpet cleaned (by Richard). (causative passive)

Here are some common causative verbs in the English language:

Have [have + person + verb]

FORM USE

means "to give someone the responsibility to do something."

TRANSLATION

far fare

Examples:  Dr. Smith had his nurse take the patient's temperature.  Please have your secretary fax me the information.  I had the mechanic check the brakes.

Let FORM

[let + person + verb]

USE

means "to allow someone to do something."

TRANSLATION

permettere

Examples:  John let me drive his new car.  Will your parents let you go to the party?  I don't know if my boss will let me take the day off. 

2

Make FORM

[make + person + verb]

USE

means "to force someone to do something."

TRANSLATION

forzare, costringere

Examples: 

My teacher made me apologize for what I had said.



Did somebody make you wear that ugly hat?



She made her children do their homework.

Get FORM USE

[get + person + to + verb] usually means "to convince to do something" or "to trick someone into doing something."

TRANSLATION convincere Examples:  Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible.  How can parents get their children to read more?  The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop smoking. 

3...