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:
They didn't make the store admit that they had extended credit to the customer.
The bank didn't have current address information for the insurance policy's beneficiary.
Our organization won't make our customers accept nonconforming products.
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
We made the clients come in on short notice.
Negative Form:
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Not Make + Person + Verb
Our organization won't make our customers accept nonconforming products.
Question Form:
(Wh?) Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Make + Person + Verb
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
Negative Form:
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Not Make + Person + Verb
The department did not have the staff arrange the deferred payments quickly.
Question Form:
(Wh?) Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Make + Person + Verb
Where did you have the clients meet their agent to sign the escrow forms?