Verb causative form

[Causative Form - Make/Let Someone Do]

Connection: Verb causative form

The causative form expresses making or letting someone do something. It has two main meanings: (1) forcing someone to do something, or (2) allowing/permitting someone to do something.

Conjugation Table:

| Verb Group | Rule | Examples | |------------|------|----------| | Group 1 (五段) | Change u-sound → あせる | 書く → 書かせる (make/let write)<br>読む → 読ませる (make/let read)<br>行く → 行かせる (make/let go)<br>話す → 話させる (make/let speak)<br>買う → 買わせる (make/let buy) | | Group 2 (一段) | Change る → させる | 食べる → 食べさせる (make/let eat)<br>見る → 見させる (make/let see) | | Irregular | Memorize | する → させる (make/let do)<br>くる → こさせる (make/let come) |

Two Main Meanings:

1. Make/Force (coercion):

• 子供に野菜を食べさせる (make the child eat vegetables)
• 学生に宿題をさせる (make students do homework)

2. Let/Allow (permission):

• 好きなことをさせてあげる (let them do what they like)
• 子供を遊ばせる (let the child play)

Important Notes:

• The person who performs the action is marked with に
• The causative form conjugates as a Group 2 verb
• Context determines whether it means "make" or "let"

Examples: 母は私に部屋を掃除させました。(My mother made me clean my room.) 子供を外で遊ばせてあげました。(I let my child play outside.) 先生は学生に本を読ませた。(The teacher made the students read a book.)