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laura1d
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 108
Location: Spain
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 Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject: Causative verbs - HELP |
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Hi all,
I need help. I have to teach causative have / need.
I know that have is a causative - to have something done. but I can't find anything on need being a causative verb. I need some kind of activity or lesson to teach these and wondered if anyone had any ideas?
Thanks if you can help!
Laura |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 2021
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:06 am Post subject: |
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Are you sure the other verb wasn't 'make'?
'Need' is not normally a causitive verb (except by inference in things like 'I need you to go to the store and get me a pack of smokes'- but it isn't truely causitive, it's just an inference, and it relies on a heirarchal social structure- if a person with more power says it to someone with less, then it's causitive- a mother to her son, a boss to her employee etc). It can set up a situation in which a causitive verb is used ('I needed a trim so I made my friend shave my head') but I think my first example is probably the type of thing that they are looking for. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:40 am Post subject: |
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Causative Verbs
Causative verbs designate the action necessary to cause another action to happen. In "The devil made me do it." the verb "made" causes the "do" to happen. Here is a brief list of causative verbs, in no particular order: let, help, allow, have, require, allow, motivate, get, make, convince, hire, assist, encourage, permit, employ, force. Most of them are followed by an object (noun or pronoun) followed by an infinitive: "She allows her pet cockatiel to perch on the windowsill. She hired a carpenter to build a new birdcage."
Three causative verbs are exceptions to the pattern described above. Instead of being followed by a noun/pronoun and an infinitive, the causative verbs have, make and let are followed by a noun/pronoun and the base form of the verb (which is actually an infinitive with the "to" left off).
Professor Villa had her students read four short novels in one week.
She also made them read five plays in one week.
However, she let them skip the final exam. |
Reading the above should show that there are two forms to teach, depending on the verbs you choose. You could do a fill in the blank activity (with or without the answers provided) to check if students know the meanings.
You could also have something like Charades, where one student draws a card ("Motivate a classmate to study math."), and he must act this out so that his teammates or anyone in the class can guess both parts. Speaking will be allowed by the actor, of course.
Teach the difference between "let" and "make". Do a matching activity (many variations). Have students explain in oral or written form why someone let/made them do something. This will help reinforce whether they truly understand their uses.
Just ideas off the top of my head. |
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laura1d
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 108
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:49 am Post subject: thanks |
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I appreciate your help.
I treble checked and 'need' was on my list so I asked my boss about it, explaining that it wasn't a causative verb but he explained he wanted me to teach the structures:
to have sth done and to need sth done.
With this in mind I used the idea of services in shops and taught it from that angle, ie 'I have my haircut at the hairdressers' / 'I need to get my bike fixed' etc.
The students seemed to understand this concept and used it successfully in group work, pair work and worksheet completion so I guess I met my syllabus needs.
Thanks for your help and advice. I have pasted your info into my computer should causative verbs ever raise their ugly heads in the future!
Laura |
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jillford64
Joined: 15 Feb 2006
Posts: 397
Location: Sin City
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Glenski--
What reference is the information you posted from? That is the most complete list of causative verbs that I've seen.
In addition to the list you've provided, The ELT Grammar Book (Firsten) mentions keep, start, order, and want and The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher's Course (Celce-Murcia & Larsen-Freeman) adds cause. |
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sallycat
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 303
Location: behind you. BOO!
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:12 am Post subject: |
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| i'm still wondering about her pet *beep*. i'm trying to think of a caged bird that sounds obscene. |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Either c.ockatiel, co.ckatoo, c.ockerel or co.ckatrice. actually it is amazing the amount of innocent words that could get beeped because the start with c.ock- Have a look in a decent dictionary.
(btw a co.ckatrice is a coc.k with a serpent's tail...... sound scary or what?) |
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Sheikh Inal Ovar
Joined: 04 Dec 2005
Posts: 1208
Location: Melo Drama School
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Or *beep* |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Thu Dec 07, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Ah but Sheikh cocks aren't normally kept in cages... or are they? |
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Echidna
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:28 am Post subject: |
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Causatives are indeed a peculiar breed! It strikes me that there are many other verbs that can and often are used in the same pattern as need something done. A few that spring to mind:
want - I want my book returned.
would like - She'd like her car washed and waxed.
expect - The teacher expects our papers handed in tomorrow.
prefer - Well done? Actually, I prefer my steak cooked rare.
etc.
Interestingly, all of these verbs seem to be followed by infinitives in more "normal" constructions. It appears much more difficult and or awkward to find verbs that that are usually followed by gerunds which fit this pattern.
I enjoy my dog walked every Thursday.(?)
Also, one other point and question for all you grammar mavens. Are all causatives nothing more than alternative passive forms? Any of the above, as well as similar structures with have and get can be followed by a by phrase.
I had my kidneystone removed by my surgeon.
My mother would like the dog walked by you.
We got our apartment fumigated by the exterminator.
Happy grammar ponderings!  |
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