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Causative verbs
Let / Make / Have / Get

The following is a mini-tutorial on the use of the causative verbs "let," "make," "have," and "get." After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises.

Let - To allow someone to do something. Example- ''Kyle let me drive his new car''.
 
Make - To force someone to do something. Example- ''Paola made her son do his homework''.
 
Have - To give someone the responsibility to do something. Example- ''I had the mechanic check the brakes''.
 
Get - To convince someone to do something, or to trick someone into doing something. Example: Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible.
 
Get vs. Have - Sometimes "get someone to do something" is interchangeable with "have someone do something," but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing.

Examples -

1) I got the mechanic to check my brakes.
Meaning- At first the mechanic didn't think it was necessary, but I convinced him to check the brakes.

2) I had the mechanic check my brakes.
Meaning- I asked the mechanic to check the brakes.

Practice

1) Sam really wanted a dog, but his parents wouldn't ________ him have a pet.

2) I can't believe she _______ you look at her vacation pictures again last night. We have to look at those stupid pictures every time we go to her house.

3) I don't know how you convince your children to clean up their rooms. I couldn't ______ my children to clean up their rooms if my life depended on it.

4) Professor Yu______ each of her students write an essay describing their future goals in life.

5) Professor Yu_______ her students use a dictionary while they were taking the test.

6) Debbie's husband hates the opera. But after days of nagging, she finally _______ him to go see the new production of La Boheme.

7) Sally ______ me take off my shoes before I went into her house. She said she wanted to keep the carpet clean.

8) Rebecca Smith requested a copy of that expense report, so I ______ the courier take one over to her last week.

9) Diane thinks television is a waste of time, so she won't _______ her children watch TV.

10) Susie _______ her son take out the trash before he went to the park to play soccer.

11) Marcus ________ me drive his new BMW. I couldn't believe how quickly it picked up speed.

12) How did you _______ the doctor to make a house call? I haven't heard of a doctor actually going to a patient's house in years.

13) My boss ______ me get him coffee, pick up his dry cleaning and buy presents for his wife. He can't do anything by himself!

14) Tommy didn't want to go to his cousin's birthday party, but his mom ________ him go.

15) I can't believe the zoo keeper _______ you feed the snake. That was so cool!

16) The contract was very detailed, and it was essential that the wording be absolutely correct. Therefore, I _______ the translator recheck his work several times to make sure there would be no misunderstandings.

17) Cheryl didn't want to wash her car, so with a little smooth talk she _______ her boyfriend to wash it for her.

18) If you ask me nicely, I'll _______ you lick the bowl after I make the cookies.

19) Jack found a fly floating in his coffee, so he ______ the waiter bring him a new cup.

20) The news coverage of the recent tornado was incredibly moving. The interview with the little boy who lost his family in the tragedy_______ everyone cry.