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N4

Letting vs Making Someone Do

Learn how context changes the causative meaning from permission to pressure, instruction, or control.

Decide whether a causative sentence means let or make.Use context words to interpret intention and power.Read causative sentences more naturally in stories and conversations.
Guided study

When causative means make

If the sentence includes rules, pressure, obligation, or authority, causative usually means “make” or “have someone do”.

父は私に全部食べさせました。

My father made me eat all of it.

先生は遅れた学生を廊下に立たせました。

The teacher made the late student stand in the hallway.

会社は社員に毎日報告を書かせています。

The company makes its employees write a report every day.

Practice guides for this lesson

Use these hub pages to connect this lesson with related reading practice and grammar paths.