Causatives and Permissives.
How English shows that one person causes or permits another person to do an action.
Summary
Causatives and Permissives explains structures used when the subject does not perform an action directly but causes or permits another person, called the agent, to perform it. The presentation defines the subject, main or functional verb, agent, causative verb, and object, then compares three common sentence structures.
The first structure is passive and uses the causative verb in participle form: I have my taxes done (by an accountant). The second and third structures are active. Causative 2 uses the simple form: I have an accountant do my taxes. Causative 3 uses the infinitive form: I get an accountant to do my taxes. The final chart groups common main verbs according to these three patterns.
Important points
- The subject initiates the action, while the agent performs it.
- The main or functional verb is the subject's verb and is conjugated.
- Causative 1 is passive and uses the causative verb in participle form.
- Causative 2 is active and uses the causative verb in simple form.
- Causative 3 is active and uses the causative verb in infinitive form.
- In the two active structures, the agent is the direct object.
Self-test
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