Making Something Happen
Causative Verbs
'Make' and 'have' are also used as causative verbs. Causative verbs are similar to the passive form because they are used to express the idea of someone causing something to take place.
Example:
What sector didn't you have Peter investigate?
Frank had Tom share his scientific evaluation of the data.
The Community Health and Rural Development Society had the canvassers collect signatures.
Causative Verb Make
Use 'make' as a causative to express that the subject requires others to take the desired action.
Positive Form:
Subject + Make + Person + Verb
The villagers made the king step down and established a community-based council.
Negative Form:
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Not Make + Person + Verb
Government didn't make industry conserve the finite natural resource called oil.
Question Form:
(Wh?) Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Make + Person + Verb
What did they make Jack do in order to keep his scholarship?
Causative Verb Have
Use 'have' as a causative to express that the subject requests others to take the desired action. The causative verb 'have' is most often used when speaking about various services. There are two forms of the causative verb 'have'
Positive Form:
Subject + Make + Person + Verb
The Community Health and Rural Development Society had the canvassers collect signatures.
Negative Form:
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Not Make + Person + Verb
The filmmaker didn't have the cast stay for a screening of the daily rushes.
Question Form:
(Wh?) Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Make + Person + Verb
What sector didn't you have Peter investigate?