Japanese Causative Form
Causative Form (shieki)
Verb conjugation showing that a person makes or lets someone perform an action (e.g., saseru, yomaseru).
The Japanese causative form (~seru / ~saseru) is used to express making or letting someone do something. Group 1 verbs (U-verbs) conjugate by changing the final 'u' sound to the 'a' row sound and adding ~seru (e.g., iku -> ikaseru). Group 2 verbs (Ru-verbs) drop the final ~ru and add ~saseru (e.g., taberu -> tabesaseru). Group 3 verbs are irregular: suru -> saseru, kuru -> kozaseru. The causee (the one doing the action) is marked with the particle 'ni' or 'o'.
Examples
先生は学生に作文を書かせました。
The teacher made the students write an essay.
母は子供にテレビを見させました。
The mother let the child watch television.
彼に仕事をさせます。
I will make him do the work.
Related terms
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