Monday, June 29, 2015

Causative verb:让 (ràng)

Causative verbs are verbs that cause people to do things. In English, these are verbs like "make", "have" and "get", as in "get Billy to eat dinner." The "get" is the causative verb. 让 (ràng) is one of the most common causative verbs in Chinese, which is usually used in spoken language. It often can be replaced by 叫 (jiào). Meaning the same thing (to make), 使 (shǐ) is used in more formal or written Chinese. 请 (qǐng) can be used as a causative verb as well, which is more respectful. Please be aware of the different meanings and levels of formality among these Causative verbs when you use them.The structure is Subject + Causative verb + Noun/Pronoun + VO. For example, 

  • 玲玲让大福帮她捡球. Lingling asked Dafu to help her to get the ball. 
  • 妈妈叫我打扫房间。Mother asked me to clean the room.
  • 这部电影使我很感动。This movie is quite moving. 
  • 我请张师傅帮我修电脑。I asked Technician Zhang to help me to fix the computer. 
Please write sentences by use the words given. 
  1. 爸爸     去    开门     我    叫
  2. 去    我    图书馆    老师    让   借书
  3. 散步    让   很   放松     我      感觉   
  4. 这个    大吃一惊      新闻      使      她
  5. 我     张大夫     帮我    请   检查   身体


No comments:

Post a Comment