Causative Structures — Make, Let, Get someone to do something

🎯 Lesson Goal:

Learn how to use causative verbs (make, let, get someone to do something) to talk about influencing or allowing others to do actions.

1. Warm-Up (3 min)

🗣️ Discuss:

1. When you were younger, what did your parents make you do?

2. What’s something your teacher lets you do in class?

3. Have you ever tried to get someone to help you with something?

💬 Sample answers:

My parents made me clean my room every weekend.
My boss lets me work from home.
I got my friend to help me move house.

🎯 Focus:
We use these verbs to show when someone causes or allows another person to do an action.

2. Presentation (8 min)

A. make + someone + base verb

→ Means force or cause someone to do something (no choice).

My parents made me tidy my room.
The film made me cry.

🧠 Structure:
make + person + base verb

She made him apologize.

❌ Don’t use “to” after make.

❌ She made him to apologize. → ✅ She made him apologize.

B. let + someone + base verb

→ Means allow or give permission to do something.

My teacher let us leave early.
They let the kids play outside.

🧠 Structure:
let + person + base verb

He let me borrow his car.

❌ No “to” after let.

C. get + someone + to + base verb

→ Means persuade or arrange for someone to do something.

I got my friend to help me with my homework.
She got her brother to fix her computer.

🧠 Structure:
get + person + to + base verb

He got the waiter to bring another chair.

💡 Difference:

• make → force (no choice)

• let → give permission (freedom)

• get → persuade or convince (encourage)

3. Controlled Practice (5 min)

Choose the correct verb: make, let, or get.

1. My mum _______ me clean my room every weekend.

2. The teacher _______ us use our phones in class.

3. I _______ my brother help me with my project.

4. The funny video _______ me laugh out loud.

5. They _______ their children stay up late on Fridays.

6. She _______ her friend to take her to the airport.

✅ Answers + Explanations

1. made – forced action (no choice).

2. let – gave permission.

3. got – persuaded or arranged.

4. made – caused an emotional reaction.

5. let – allowed.

6. got – persuaded or convinced (note “to” after “get”).

4. Transformation Practice (5 min)

Rewrite the sentences using the correct causative structure.

1. My teacher allowed me to leave early.
   → My teacher __________.

2. My parents forced me to study medicine.
   → My parents __________.

3. I persuaded my friend to come to the party.
   → I __________.

4. The sad film caused me to cry.
   → The film __________.

5. She allowed her brother to borrow her car.
   → She __________.

6. The coach forced the team to run ten laps.
   → The coach __________.

✅ Sample Answers

1. My teacher let me leave early.

2. My parents made me study medicine.

3. I got my friend to come to the party.

4. The film made me cry.

5. She let her brother borrow her car.

6. The coach made the team run ten laps.

💡 Tip:

• “make” and “let” → base verb

• “get” → to + base verb

5. Engaging Discussion (5 min)

🗣️ Answer these questions naturally using “make,” “let,” or “get.”

1. What do your parents or boss make you do?

2. What do you let your friends or family do when they visit you?

3. When was the last time you got someone to help you?

4. Has a movie or song ever made you feel emotional?

5. What would you never let someone do in your house?

💬 Sample answers:

My boss makes me attend weekly meetings.
I let my friends stay overnight sometimes.
I got my brother to fix my car.

6. Extra Discussion (4–5 min)

💬 Deeper prompts:

1. Which is harder — making people do something or getting them to do it? Why?

2. Why do you think “let” is more common in friendly relationships?

3. How can these verbs change the tone of what you say (friendly vs. strict)?

4. What’s something you wish you could get someone to do for you right now?

🎯 Goal: Use the causative verbs fluently to describe real-life influence and permission.

7. Wrap-Up & Review (2 min)

🧾 Quick Recap

• make + person + base verb → force or cause

  My parents made me study.

• let + person + base verb → allow or permit

  She let me drive her car.

• get + person + to + base verb → persuade or convince

  I got him to help me with the task.

💬 Mini Challenge:
Make three true sentences about your life — one with each verb!

My boss made me stay late yesterday.
My friend let me borrow her jacket.
I got my neighbour to water my plants.