BackGrammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 16
Structure of せる・させる (Causative):
Examples:
［る1］Verb ￫ 見る + させる
［る5］Verb ￫ 座る + らせる
［う］Verb ￫ 歌う + わせる
［く］Verb ￫ 歩く + かせる
［す］Verb ￫ 話す + させる
［つ］Verb ￫ 打つ + たせる
［ぬ］Verb ￫ 死ぬ + なせる
［ぶ］Verb ￫ 飛ぶ + ばせる
［む］Verb ￫ 休む + ませる
［ぐ］Verb ￫ 泳ぐ + がせる
Exceptions:
する→させる
くる→ こさせる
Details about せる・させる (Causative):
In order to express that someone was 'made to do', or 'let do' something, the auxiliary verbs せる and させる will be used. The meaning that せる and させる will convey (when attached to a verb) is called 使役 (causative, employment, or using) in Japanese.
A common misconception is that せる and させる are standard conjugations of each verb. However, these auxiliary verbs should be thought of as having their own meaning, in a similar way to how たい, ない, だ, です, and other auxiliaries each have their own meanings.
In order to use these grammar structures, remove the る from る-Verbs, and then add させる. For う-Verbs, change the last kana to the あ sound kana from within the same column (except for う, which becomes わ), and then add せる (る becomes ら, む becomes ま, く becomes か, etc.).
A common misconception is that せる and させる are standard conjugations of each verb. However, these auxiliary verbs should be thought of as having their own meaning, in a similar way to how たい, ない, だ, です, and other auxiliaries each have their own meanings.
In order to use these grammar structures, remove the る from る-Verbs, and then add させる. For う-Verbs, change the last kana to the あ sound kana from within the same column (except for う, which becomes わ), and then add せる (る becomes ら, む becomes ま, く becomes か, etc.).
- 息子に野菜を食べさせる。I make my son eat vegetables.
- 友達にトマトを育てさせる。I make my friend grow tomatoes.
- 忘年会で先輩たちが後輩に歌を歌わせた。At the end of year party, the seniors made the juniors sing a song.
- 友達が私の携帯を壊したので、新しいのを買わせる。Since my friend broke my phone, I will make them buy me a new one.
- 嫌な仕事は後輩にさせる。I let my juniors do the work that I don't want to do.
- 親に心配させることしてはいけない。You should not do anything that would make your parents worry.
- 夜遅くに会社に来させるのはよくない。It is not good to make people come to the company late at night.
- 犬を呼んで、こっちに来させる。To call the dog and make it come to you.
せる・させる (Causative)
Usage Notes for せる・させる (Causative):
With causative, either に, or を can mark the doer of the action that せる, or させる is linked to (not が). This is because the actual 'doer' of the action is considered to be the person that is making/letting someone perform that action. に will usually imply that someone was 'let' do something, while を implies 'make'.
- 誰かに心配をさせる。To let someone worry about you.
- 誰かを心配させる。To make someone worry about you.
Synonyms for せる・させる (Causative):
Verb［れる・られる］
Was done to ~ by ~, Done without consent, Done to one's dismay
Causative-Passive
Verbs (Causative-passive voice), To be made to do something, To be forced to do
Example of せる・させる (Causative)
学校に行きたくない子を行かせる。
(Someone) makes the kid who doesn't want to go to school go.
友達を朝４時に起こして、帰らせた。
I woke my friend up at four in the morning and made him go home.
私は生徒に勉強することを楽しませます。
I make students enjoy studying.
どこかに行かせると楽しめないでしょう。
If (you) make (someone) go somewhere, they won't have fun.
お兄ちゃんが妹を泣かせた。
My older brother made my younger sister cry.
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