Let's use the causative form "to make someone do something." /Japanese Learning Support LLC | blog

Let's learn Japanese grammar!

This time, we'll introduce how to use "causative," one of the basic grammatical concepts.

Everyone, let's first imagine this scenario.

A sports coach and an athlete are talking.

Teacher: We'll practice a lot today! First, run 10 laps around the field.

Player: Yes. (Running 10 laps around the field is going to be tough...)

In this way, the coach tells the athletes to "run," and the athletes run.

The athletes are thinking, "I don't want to do this..." but they run anyway.

This can be described as "the coach makes the athletes run."

The coach makes the athletes run.

"Hashirasemasu" is the causative form of the verb "hashiru" (to run).

Today, let's learn how to use causative verbs and how to form causative verbs.

Today's menu

1. How to use "causative": Do this!

2. How to form causative verbs

3. Other uses of "causative"

4. Let's try some practice problems! ~Let's try using the causative form~

5. Summary

How to use "causative verbs" - Do it!

Let's start by looking at some example sentences.

Sample 1: The coach makes the players run.

Sample 2: The teacher had the students stand up.

Sample 3: The mother lets her child play outside.

In this form, "A will make B do something," it means that A has given an order to someone else to do something.

for example,

The teacher made the students stand up.

In this sentence, it is the students who "stand."

And it was the teacher who told or instructed them to "stand up."

In other words,

Teacher → Students: "Please stand up."

Student → Stand

That's the relationship.

At this point, the students might be thinking, "I don't want to stand up..." or "I don't like this..."

But, since the teacher said so, we have to stand up.

Between a teacher and a student, the teacher is in a superior position.

In causative sentences, always

The relationship is one of superiors → inferiors.

★Should I use "wo" and "ni"?

In causative sentences, both "~o" and "~ni" can be used.

Let's look at more examples.

Sample 4: The teacher had the students write an essay.

Sample 5: The father made his daughter eat vegetables.

Sample 6: The department head had Yamada copy the documents.

Let's compare Sample1 from earlier with Sample4 now.

Sample 1: The coach makes the players run.

Sample 4: The teacher had the students write an essay.

In the first sentence, it says "athletes," but in the second sentence, it says "students should write essays."

That's right. The sentence below uses the particles "ni" and "wo".

There are two forms of causative sentences.

"Person A makes Person B do something (causative)"

"Person A makes Person B do something (causative)"

Both sentences use the same causative construction, but why do the particles change?

The answer is the type of verb.

The verbs in the sentences in Samples 1-3 were all intransitive verbs: "run," "stand," and "play."

Looking at Samples 4-6, you'll notice that the verbs attached are transitive verbs: "write," "eat," and "copy."

When using transitive verbs in this way, please note that the form is "Person A makes Person B do something."

How to form causative verbs

So, how do you form the phrase "to make someone do something"?

The way they are formed differs slightly depending on the group of verbs.

★Group 1

Change the sound before "-masu" to an "a" sound and add "semasu".

kakimasu → kakasemasu ki→ka

Read → Make someone read

hanashimasu → hanasasemasu

Wait → Make them wait

I'll play → I'll let you play

Drink → Make someone drink

for example,

The teacher has the students write an essay.

The mother gives her child medicine.

This is how you make it.

★Group 2

Remove the "-masu" and add "sasemasu".

Tabemasu → Tabesasesu

I'll watch it → I'll make you watch it

Okimasu → Okisasesu

Sleep → Make someone sleep

I will investigate → I will have someone investigate

for example,

My mother makes her children eat vegetables.

The president has his subordinates look up the data.

★Group 3

"Shimasu" and "Kimasu" have special forms.

shimasu → saseru

Come → Make it come

for example,

The teacher makes the students study.

The teacher has the students come to the classroom.

Other uses of "causative"

The verb "causative" has two uses.

★ Give instructions and orders

This is used when you want to ask someone to do something by saying "Please do this."

This is the usage we just learned about.

Sample 1: The teacher assigned homework to the students.

Sample 2: The coach made the players run.

Sample 3: I sent my son out to do some shopping.

This expression is often used when someone in a higher position gives an order to someone in a lower position.

★ Allow

You can also use the causative form when you want to give someone permission to do something, by saying "You may do..."

Sample 1: The mother let the children play.

Sample 2: The test was over, so the teacher sent the students home.

Sample 3: I will let my child marry the person they love.

for example,

My mother let the children play.

This means that the mother told the child, "You can play," and the child played.

In this case, it doesn't mean "forcing someone to do something."

It can also be used to mean "you can do that," or to give permission.

"Causative" includes,

- To give instructions to someone

- Allow someone to do something

This is one way to use it.

Let's try some practice problems! ~Let's try using the causative form~

Problem 1: Complete the sentence by filling in the blanks with the appropriate words.

An example answer will be written at the bottom of this blog.

example)

The teacher assigned homework to the students ( ).

→ The teacher assigns homework to the students.

① The mother gives her child vegetables ( ).

② The coach ( ).

③ The teacher asks the students to give a presentation ( ).

④ I sent my son on a trip alone ( ).

Problem 2: Create sentences using the causative form.

① Teacher → Student → Read a book

The teacher is ( ).

② Mother → Child → Go to bed early

My mother ( ).

③ Department head → Subordinate → Go on a business trip

The department head is ( ).

④ Store manager → Employee → Clean the store

The store manager is ( ).

summary

How was it?

Today, we introduced the basic grammar topic of "causative verbs."

The causative form is used to instruct someone to do something.

Using the form "to make someone do something",

"Teachers assign homework to their students."

"The coach makes the players run."

You can say it like this.

Also, not only when giving instructions like "Please do this,"

"My mother let the children play."

It can also be used to give permission, meaning "you may do..."

"~saseru" is a grammatical structure that is frequently used in everyday conversation.

I encourage you all to try it out!

Example answer

Problem 1

① The mother makes her child eat vegetables.

② The coach makes the players run.

③ The teacher has the students give presentations.

④ I will let my son travel alone.

Problem 2

①

The teacher has the students read books.

②

My mother puts her children to bed early.

③

The department head sends his subordinates on business trips.

④

The store manager makes the employees clean the store.