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Causative structures

causative

Causative sentences are similar to passive sentences in that the agent (the doer of the action) is not the grammatical subject of the sentence. Depending on whether the agent is mentioned or not, causative structures can be of two main types. 

Causative structures with an agent

agent
causative

In the following causative structures, the agent is the object of the main clause.

Causative structures without an agent

agent
causative

In these causative structures, the agent is usually not mentioned.

GET + object + past participle

causative
past participle

This structure has the same meaning as have + object + past participle, but get is more informal:

I got my hair cut this morning.
Could you get this jacket cleaned?
They finally got the car serviced.

GET + object + TO-infinitive

causative
infinitive

This structure means "persuade someone to do something". It is similar in meaning to have + object + bare infinitive but is more informal:

Finally, we got a mechanic to repair the elevator.
I couldn't get her to understand the problem.

HAVE + object + bare infinitive

causative
infinitive

This structure has a meaning similar to "make someone do something":

I'll have her copy the document right away. (I'll ask/tell her to copy the document right away.)
The teacher had me stay after class to discuss my essay. (The teacher made me stay after class to discuss my essay.)

HAVE + object + past participle

causative
past participle

This structure is generally used when we talk about professional services provided for a customer. It means that we are not doing something ourselves but arranging for someone to do it for us:

I had my hair cut this morning. (A hairdresser cut my hair.)
I'm going to have my apartment painted. (I'm going to ask someone to paint my apartment.)

HAVE, GET + object + present participle

causative
present participle

Have/get + object + present participle can mean "persuade someone to do something":

The teacher had the whole class singing Mary Had a Little Lamb.
The boss got the staff working overtime.

MAKE + object + bare infinitive

causative
infinitive

This structure means "force someone to do something they do not want to do":

The teacher made Jack rewrite the composition.
His mom made him clean his room again.

Make + object + bare infinitive can also mean "cause someone to do something":