Unit 1 - Section 3: Teineigo (Polite Language)

Practice Quiz

Causative Form (使役形 Shieki-kei)

The causative form is used to express "make/let someone do something" or "have someone do something". It indicates that someone causes another person to perform an action.

Conjugation Rules for Causative Form

Group 1 (Ichidan verbs - る-verbs):

Replace る with させる

  • 食べる → 食べさせる (taberu → tabesaseru) "make/let eat"
  • 見る → 見させる (miru → misaseru) "make/let see"
  • 教える → 教えさせる (oshieru → oshiesaseru) "make/let teach"
Group 2 (Godan verbs - う-verbs):

Change the final -u sound to -a sound + せる

Ending Change to Example
う わ + せる 買う → 買わせる (kau → kawaseru)
く か + せる 書く → 書かせる (kaku → kakaseru)
ぐ が + せる 泳ぐ → 泳がせる (oyogu → oyogaseru)
す さ + せる 話す → 話させる (hanasu → hanasaseru)
つ た + せる 待つ → 待たせる (matsu → mataseru)
ぬ な + せる 死ぬ → 死なせる (shinu → shinaseru)
ぶ ば + せる 遊ぶ → 遊ばせる (asobu → asobaseru)
む ま + せる 読む → 読ませる (yomu → yomaseru)
る ら + せる 取る → 取らせる (toru → toraseru)
Group 3 (Irregular verbs):
  • する → させる (suru → saseru) "make/let do"
  • 来る → 来させる (kuru → kosaseru) "make/let come"

Particle Usage with Causative

1. を (wo) - For Transitive Verbs

Usage: When the causee (person made to do something) is marked with を

先生せんせいは学生がくせいを立たたせた。
[Sensei wa gakusei wo tataseta]
Translation: The teacher made the student stand.
2. に (ni) - For Intransitive Verbs

Usage: When the causee performs an intransitive action

母ははは子供こどもに薬くすりを飲のませた。
[Haha wa kodomo ni kusuri wo nomaseta]
Translation: The mother made her child take medicine.

Uses of Causative

1. Force/Make Someone Do Something
親おやは子供こどもを勉強べんきょうさせた。
[Oya wa kodomo wo benkyou saseta]
Translation: The parents made their child study.
2. Let/Allow Someone Do Something
先生せんせいは私わたしを早はやく帰かえらせてくれました。
[Sensei wa watashi wo hayaku kaerasete kuremashita]
Translation: The teacher let me go home early.
3. Causative + てください (Request to let you do)
私わたしにも行いかせてください。
[Watashi ni mo ikasete kudasai]
Translation: Please let me go too.

Causative-Passive Form

Formation: Causative + られる → "to be made to do"

This combines both forms to express being forced or made to do something.

Examples:
私わたしは先生せんせいに宿題しゅくだいをやらされた。
[Watashi wa sensei ni shukudai wo yarasareta]
Translation: I was made to do homework by the teacher.
毎日まいにち残業ざんぎょうさせられる。
[Mainichi zangyou saserareru]
Translation: I'm made to work overtime every day.

Common Causative Verbs

行く → 行かせる
to go → make/let go (iku → ikaseru)
食べる → 食べさせる
to eat → make/let eat (taberu → tabesaseru)
飲む → 飲ませる
to drink → make/let drink (nomu → nomaseru)
待つ → 待たせる
to wait → make wait (matsu → mataseru)
やる → やらせる
to do → make/let do (yaru → yaraseru)
泣く → 泣かせる
to cry → make cry (naku → nakaseru)
笑う → 笑わせる
to laugh → make laugh (warau → warawaseru)
働く → 働かせる
to work → make work (hataraku → hatarakaseru)

Study Tips

Mastering Causative Form:
  • Same a-column pattern: Like passive and negative, godan verbs use a-column + せる
  • Context is key: Whether it means "make" or "let" depends on context
  • を vs に: Transitive verbs use を, intransitive use に
  • Causative-passive: Very common in workplace contexts (やらされる)
  • Politeness: Use causative + てください to politely request permission
Course Navigation
Study Tips
  • Read each example carefully
  • Practice pronunciation aloud
  • Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
  • Finish the section quiz