1996 - Make, Have or Get How to Use Causative Verbs in English

Introduction

In this episode, the hosts discuss causative verbs and their differences. They answer a listener's question about the difference between "make," "have," and "get" when followed by a subject and verb.

Asking someone to do something for you

• The hosts discuss how they had their friend take care of their dog while they were away.

• They explain that saying "we had our friend do this" means they asked her to do it.

• The hosts explore the different implications of using "made," "gotten," or "had" when asking someone to do something for you.

Listener Question

• Asami from Japan asks about the differences between causative verbs, specifically "make," "have," and "get." She is confused about what each implies when followed by a subject and verb.

Understanding Causative Verbs

• Positive verbs are verbs that show the reason something happened without indicating what the subject did themselves. Examples include allow, permit, make, force, require, have, get, and help.

• The hosts explain that all these verbs are about having someone else help us with something we need done.

Causative Verbs

In this section, the speaker explains the different meanings and implications of causative verbs such as "make," "have," and "get."

Make

• The verb "make" implies forcing or requiring someone to do something against their will or using power.

• Examples include making kids do laundry or coaches making players run laps.

Have

• The verb "have" simply means asking someone to do something without any negative connotation.

• Examples include having parents send stuff or having kids clean up their room.

Get

• The verb "get" implies manipulation or convincing someone to do something they were unwilling to do.

• Examples include getting parents to send stuff or getting a teacher to raise a grade.

Conclusion

In this section, the speaker emphasizes that the choice of causative verb used can communicate different intentions and strategies behind asking someone to do something.

• It is important to consider which causative verb is used when communicating with others.

Using Positive Verbs in English

In this section, the speakers discuss the importance of using positive verbs in English and how they can be confusing. They provide examples of different scenarios where positive verbs are used and explain their subtle differences.

Importance of Clear Connotation

• Using the right connotation is important to avoid misunderstandings.

Role Play Example

• The speakers provide a role play example at a grocery store to demonstrate the use of positive verbs.

• They discuss different ways to express similar ideas, such as "I had my mom send me her recipe" versus "I tried to get my mom to send me her recipe."

Different Scenarios

• The speakers discuss scenarios where using "get" implies that an effort was made but not successful, such as "I tried to get my mom to send me her recipe."

• They also mention situations where someone may have been convinced or persuaded into doing something, such as "he made her answer" when referring to a phone call.

Takeaway

• Using positive verbs correctly is crucial in conveying the intended meaning and avoiding misunderstandings.

• It's important to choose words that accurately reflect one's intentions and interactions with others.