Causative Verbs in Spanish: Making Someone Do Something

Causative verbs in Spanish are used to indicate that one person causes or makes another person do something. This construction is commonly used to express actions where one person is responsible for the action but doesn't perform it themselves.

In English, we often use phrases like "have someone do something" or "make someone do something" to convey the same meaning. In Spanish, causative verbs allow us to express this concept more directly.

The Causative Verbs in Spanish

There are two main causative verbs in Spanish: hacer and dejar. Let's take a closer look at each one and how they are used.

1. Hacer

The verb hacer is commonly used as a causative verb in Spanish. It is used to indicate that someone causes or makes another person do something.

The structure of the sentence is as follows:

subject + hacer + que + person + verb

Here are a few examples:

• I made Juan cook dinner.
  Hice que Juan cocinara la cena.

• She had her brother fix the car.
  Hizo que su hermano arreglara el carro.

• We made them clean the house.
  Hicimos que ellos limpiaran la casa.

2. Dejar

The verb dejar is another causative verb in Spanish. It is used to indicate allowing or permitting someone to do something.

The structure of the sentence is as follows:

subject + dejar + que + person + verb

Here are a few examples:

• He let me borrow his bike.
  Me dejó que tomara prestada su bicicleta.

• They allowed us to enter the building.
  Nos dejaron que entráramos al edificio.

• She allowed her kids to watch TV.
  Dejó que sus hijos miraran televisión.

Additional Tips for Using Causative Verbs

1. Indicating Different Verb Tenses

When using causative verbs in Spanish, the verb that follows the causative verb should be in the subjunctive mood. This is important to show that the action is being caused or permitted by someone else.

For example:

• She made me study for the exam. Ella hizo que yo estudiara para el examen.

• We let them stay at our house. Les dejamos que se quedaran en nuestra casa.

2. Using Reflexive Pronouns

If the verb being performed by the other person is reflexive, don't forget to include the reflexive pronoun that corresponds to the subject.

For example:

• He had his hair cut.
  Se hizo cortar el pelo.

• She let herself be persuaded.
  Se dejó persuadir.

Conclusion

Causative verbs in Spanish, such as hacer and dejar, are useful tools for expressing the concept of making or allowing someone to do something. By mastering the structures and using them in the appropriate context, you can confidently convey causative actions in your Spanish communication.