Introduction to the Causative Form
The causative form in Japanese is used to express that someone makes or lets another person do something. It can indicate permission, cause, or instruction. For example, "I make my younger brother study" or "The teacher lets the students speak."
In English, we often use "make," "let," or "have" to express causation, and Japanese has a specific grammatical form to convey this meaning.
How to Form the Causative
The causative form is created differently depending on the verb group.
| Verb Group | Causative Form Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 (u-verbs) | Change u to a + seru | 書く (kaku) → 書かせる (kakaseru) |
| Group 2 (ru-verbs) | Replace る with させる | 食べる (taberu) → 食べさせる (tabesaseru) |
| Irregular verbs | する → させる, 来る → 来させる | する (suru) → させる (saseru) |
先生は学生に漢字を書かせました。
Sensei wa gakusei ni kanji o kakasemashita.
The teacher made the students write kanji.
母は子供に野菜を食べさせます。
Haha wa kodomo ni yasai o tabesasemasu.
The mother lets/makes the child eat vegetables.
Usage of the Causative
The causative form can express different nuances:
- Making someone do something: expressing force or obligation.
- Letting someone do something: granting permission.
- Allowing or causing something to happen: indirect causation.
Context and particles used with the causative verb often clarify whether it means "make" or "let."
父は私に車を運転させた。
Chichi wa watashi ni kuruma o untensaseta.
My father made me drive the car.
先生は学生に質問させた。
Sensei wa gakusei ni shitsumon saseta.
The teacher let the students ask questions.
The Causative-Passive Form
The causative-passive form combines the causative and passive forms and is used when someone is forced or made to do something unwillingly.
It is often translated as "to be made to do" or "to be forced to do."
To form the causative-passive, conjugate the causative verb into the passive form.
彼は先生に宿題をさせられた。
Kare wa sensei ni shukudai o saserareta.
He was made to do homework by the teacher.
子供は母に野菜を食べさせられた。
Kodomo wa haha ni yasai o tabesaserareta.
The child was forced to eat vegetables by the mother.
Polite Form of the Causative
The causative form can be conjugated into polite speech by adding ます after the causative stem.
For example, 書かせる in polite form is 書かせます.
| Plain Causative | Polite Causative |
|---|---|
| 書かせる (kakaseru) | 書かせます (kakasemasu) |
| 食べさせる (tabesaseru) | 食べさせます (tabesasemasu) |
先生は学生に作文を書かせます。
Sensei wa gakusei ni sakubun o kakasemasu.
The teacher makes the students write essays.
Common Verbs in the Causative Form
Here are some frequently used verbs and their causative forms:
| Verb (Dictionary Form) | Causative Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 話す (hanasu) | 話させる (hanasaseru) | to make/let speak |
| 行く (iku) | 行かせる (ikasemasu) | to make/let go |
| 飲む (nomu) | 飲ませる (nomaseru) | to make/let drink |
Practice Examples
Try reading and understanding these sentences using the causative form:
先生は生徒に英語を話させます。
Sensei wa seito ni eigo o hanasasemasu.
The teacher makes the students speak English.
母は子供にピアノを弾かせました。
Haha wa kodomo ni piano o hikasemashita.
The mother made the child play the piano.
上司は部下に報告書を書かせた。
Jōshi wa buka ni hōkokusho o kakaseta.
The boss made the subordinate write the report.
Tips for Remembering Rules
Here are some useful tips to help you master the causative form:
- Remember the vowel changes for Group 1 verbs: change the final -u sound to -a before adding せる.
- Group 2 verbs simply replace る with させる.
- Irregular verbs have unique forms: する → させる, 来る → 来させる.
- Pay attention to particles: に often marks the person who is made to do the action.
- Practice conjugating verbs in different tenses and politeness levels to become comfortable.
With consistent practice, the causative form will become a natural part of your Japanese expression toolkit.