Dialogs with Special Verbs

These verbs indicate that someone causes someone else to do something. when a dialog contains a causative verb, you must understand who performs the action. The verbs have, get, make, and let are the most common causative verbs. They are used in the following patterns: 

Have


have someone do something -- Dave had the Mechanic fix his car. 
have something done -- Dave had his car fixed. 

The causative verb have indicates that one person asks or pays another to do something. The subject of this sentence, Dave, does not perform the action. In the first sentence, mechanic does. In the second sentence, an unnamed person does. 

Get


get someone to do something -- Jerry got his cousin to cut his hair. 
get something done -- Jerry got his hair cut. 

The causative verb get usually means to persuade someone to do something. Again note that the subject, Jerry, does not perform the action. In the first sentence, his cousin does. In the second sentence, again, an unnamed person does. 

Make


Make someone do something -- Cathy made her son do his homework. 

The causative verb make means to force someone or compel someone to do something. Cathy's son is compelled to do his homework. 

Let


let someone do something -- the boss let us go home. 

The verb let means permit or allow. The boss gives permission: we go home. 

_____________

You will hear:

M1: Did you speak to the head of the department?
F1: No, she had her assistant meet with me. 

You will read:

  • She spoke to the head of the department. 
  • The head of the department had a meeting with her assistant. 
  • She met with the assistant to the head of the department. 
  • The assistant will soon become head of the department. 

Used to


The expression used to has two forms, each with different meanings. 

Used to + simple form

I used to live in New York ------ Meaning "I once lived in New York (but not anymore)
I've finally gotten used to my new job ------ Meaning "I've finally become accustomed to my new job). 

You will hear:

F1: What does Hank's father do for a living?
M1: He's a salesman now, but he used to be a truck driver. 

You will read:

  • He once drove trucks. 
  • He sells used trucks. 
  • His truck is still useful. 
  • He's accustomed to his job. 

The man says that Hank's father used to be a truck driver. In other words, Hank's father once drove trucks, but he no longer does so. 

You will hear:

F1: Nancy is working late again today?
M1: Yeah, she must be getting used to it by now. 

You will read:

  • She probably has a more difficult job now. 
  • She once worked later than she does now. 
  • She seldom comes to work late. 
  • She is becoming accustomed to late hours at work. 

7 Lessons