What is Causative Form?
Causative form (使役形) expresses making or letting someone do something.
食べさせる (tabesaseru) - make/let someone eat
書かせる (kakaseru) - make/let someone write
させる (saseru) - make/let someone do
Two Meanings
1. Make Someone Do (Force)
母は子供に野菜を食べさせた
"The mother made her child eat vegetables"
先生は学生に本を読ませた
"The teacher made the students read books"
2. Let/Allow Someone Do (Permission)
親は子供を遊ばせた
"The parents let their child play"
先生は学生に質問させた
"The teacher let the students ask questions"
Context determines which meaning!
Conjugation Rules
Ichidan Verbs
Drop る, add させる:
食べる → 食べさせる (make/let eat)
見る → 見させる (make/let see)
寝る → 寝させる (make/let sleep)
起きる → 起きさせる (make/let wake up)
教える → 教えさせる (make/let teach)
Godan Verbs
Change -u to -aseru:
書く → 書かせる (kaku → kakaseru)
kak-u → kak-aseru
読む → 読ませる (yomu → yomaseru)
yom-u → yom-aseru
話す → 話させる (hanasu → hanasaseru)
hanas-u → hanas-aseru
買う → 買わせる (kau → kawaseru)
ka-u → ka-waseru
待つ → 待たせる (matsu → mataseru)
mat-u → mat-aseru
遊ぶ → 遊ばせる (asobu → asobaseru)
asob-u → asob-aseru
帰る → 帰らせる (kaeru → kaeraseru)
kaer-u → kaer-aseru
泳ぐ → 泳がせる (oyogu → oyogaseru)
oyog-u → oyog-aseru
Irregular Verbs
する → させる (make/let do)
来る → 来させる (こさせる, kosaseru) (make/let come)
Complete Conjugation Chart
| Dictionary | Group | Causative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 書く | Godan | 書かせる | make write |
| 読む | Godan | 読ませる | make read |
| 話す | Godan | 話させる | make speak |
| 食べる | Ichidan | 食べさせる | make eat |
| 見る | Ichidan | 見させる | make see |
| する | Irregular | させる | make do |
| 来る | Irregular | 来させる | make come |
Particle Patterns
Pattern 1: を使う (Transitive verbs)
[Causer]は [Person]に [Object]を [Causative]
母は子供に野菜を食べさせた
"Mother made child eat vegetables"
先生は学生に本を読ませた
"Teacher made students read book"
Pattern 2: に使う (Intransitive verbs)
[Causer]は [Person]を [Causative]
親は子供を遊ばせた
"Parents let child play"
先生は学生を帰らせた
"Teacher let students go home"
When to Use Causative
1. Forcing/Compelling
母は私に部屋を掃除させた
"My mother made me clean my room"
上司は部下を残業させた
"The boss made subordinates work overtime"
先生は学生に宿題をさせた
"The teacher made students do homework"
2. Allowing/Permitting
親は子供を外で遊ばせた
"Parents let their child play outside"
先生は学生に質問させた
"Teacher let students ask questions"
医者は患者を帰らせた
"Doctor let the patient go home"
3. Causing to Happen
この映画は私を泣かせた
"This movie made me cry"
その知らせは皆を驚かせた
"That news surprised everyone"
Short Causative (Colloquial)
Godan verbs only: -aseru → -asu
Standard: 行かせる
Short: 行かす (ikasu)
Standard: 書かせる
Short: 書かす (kakasu)
Standard: 読ませる
Short: 読ます (yomasu)
Ichidan verbs: No short form
食べさせる ✓
食べさす ✗
Polite Forms
Causative conjugates like Ichidan verbs:
食べさせる → 食べさせます (polite)
書かせる → 書かせます (polite)
させる → させます (polite)
Negative
食べさせない (don't make eat)
書かせない (don't make write)
させない (don't make do)
Past
食べさせた (made eat)
書かせた (made write)
させた (made do)
Common Expressions
Parenting
子供に野菜を食べさせる
"Make child eat vegetables"
子供を早く寝かせる
"Make child sleep early"
子供に勉強させる
"Make child study"
子供を遊ばせる
"Let child play"
Work/School
部下に報告書を書かせる
"Make subordinate write report"
学生に発表させる
"Make students present"
社員を働かせる
"Make employees work"
Emotions
人を笑わせる
"Make people laugh"
人を泣かせる
"Make people cry"
人を待たせる
"Make people wait"
人を怒らせる
"Make people angry"
Requesting Permission (させてください)
やらせてください
"Please let me do it"
行かせてください
"Please let me go"
見させてください
"Please let me see"
話させてください
"Please let me speak"
This is polite request for permission!
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Wrong Particles
Wrong: 子供が野菜を食べさせる ❌
Right: 母は子供に野菜を食べさせる ✓
Wrong: 学生は本を読ませる ❌
Right: 先生は学生に本を読ませる ✓
The causer is the subject (は)!
Mistake 2: Confusing を and に
Transitive: 子供に野菜を食べさせる ✓
(Child is marked by に, vegetables by を)
Intransitive: 子供を遊ばせる ✓
(Child is marked by を, no object)
Mistake 3: Using Short Form with Ichidan
Wrong: 食べさす ❌
Right: 食べさせる ✓
Short form only for Godan!
Mistake 4: Wrong Conjugation
Wrong: 書く → 書くさせる ❌
Right: 書く → 書かせる ✓
Wrong: 食べる → 食べるさせる ❌
Right: 食べる → 食べさせる ✓
Causative with Te-form
子供に野菜を食べさせて、褒めた
"I made my child eat vegetables and praised them"
学生に発表させて、評価した
"I made students present and evaluated them"
Causative-てもらう/てくれる
させてもらう (receive permission)
やらせてもらう
"receive permission to do / be allowed to do"
行かせてもらった
"I was allowed to go"
見させてもらいました
"I was allowed to see"
させてくれる (someone allows)
親が行かせてくれた
"My parents let me go"
先生が質問させてくれた
"The teacher let me ask questions"
Conversation Examples
Example 1: Parenting
A: 子供に何を食べさせますか？
"What do you make your child eat?"
B: 野菜をたくさん食べさせます
"I make them eat lots of vegetables"
A: 大変ですね
"That must be tough"
B: はい、なかなか食べてくれません
"Yes, they don't really eat it"
Example 2: Work
A: 部下に何をさせましたか？
"What did you make your subordinate do?"
B: レポートを書かせました
"I made them write a report"
A: 終わりましたか？
"Did they finish?"
B: まだです。明日までに終わらせます
"Not yet. I'll have them finish by tomorrow"
Example 3: Permission
A: 先生、質問させてください
"Teacher, please let me ask a question"
B: はい、どうぞ
"Yes, go ahead"
A: この問題が分かりません
"I don't understand this problem"
B: 説明しましょう
"I'll explain"
Causative in Context
Making Someone Wait
待たせてすみません
"Sorry for making you wait"
あまり待たせないでください
"Please don't make me wait too long"
彼を待たせた
"I made him wait"
Emotional Impact
その映画は私を泣かせた
"That movie made me cry"
彼の話は皆を笑わせた
"His story made everyone laugh"
その知らせは親を心配させた
"That news made my parents worry"
Commands/Requests
やらせろ！
"Let me do it!" (rough)
行かせてくれ
"Let me go"
見させてください
"Please let me see" (polite)
Key Takeaways
✓ Causative = make/let someone do
✓ Godan: -u → -aseru
✓ Ichidan: -ru → -saseru
✓ Two meanings: force or allow
✓ Causer uses は, person uses に/を
✓ Short form: -asu (Godan only)
✓ させてください = polite permission request
✓ Context determines meaning
Master causative form - essential for expressing control!
Next: Causative-Passive
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