German Causative

Cheatsheet Content

1. Causative Verbs: Lassen The verb "lassen" is the primary causative verb in German, meaning "to have something done" or "to let/allow someone to do something." 1.1. Structure with "Lassen" Subject + Lassen (conjugated) + Object + Infinitive Verb Example: Ich lasse mein Auto reparieren. (I have my car repaired.) Example: Er lässt die Kinder spielen. (He lets the children play.) 1.2. Conjugation of "Lassen" Pronoun Present Past Simple Present Perfect (with "haben") ich lasse ließ habe...lassen du lässt ließest hast...lassen er/sie/es lässt ließ hat...lassen wir lassen ließen haben...lassen ihr lasst ließt habt...lassen sie/Sie lassen ließen haben...lassen 1.3. Usage of "Lassen" To have something done (by someone else): Ich lasse mir die Haare schneiden. (I'm having my hair cut.) Wir lassen ein Haus bauen. (We are having a house built.) To let/allow someone to do something: Sie lässt ihn gehen. (She lets him go.) Der Lehrer lässt die Schüler fragen stellen. (The teacher lets the students ask questions.) To leave something somewhere: Ich habe mein Buch zu Hause gelassen. (I left my book at home.) - Note: Here "lassen" functions as a regular verb, not causative. To stop doing something: Lass das! (Stop that!) Er lässt das Rauchen. (He stops smoking.) 1.4. "Lassen" in Perfect Tenses When "lassen" is used in a causative sense in perfect tenses, it acts as a modal-like verb and uses the infinitive form of "lassen" instead of the past participle "gelassen". Correct: Ich habe mein Auto reparieren lassen. (I have had my car repaired.) Incorrect: Ich habe mein Auto reparieren gelassen. Correct: Sie hatte ihn gehen lassen. (She had let him go.) However, if "lassen" means "to leave" or "to stop", the past participle "gelassen" is used: Ich habe das Buch auf dem Tisch gelassen. (I left the book on the table.) Er hat das Rauchen gelassen. (He stopped smoking.) 2. Other Verbs with Causative Meaning While "lassen" is the primary causative verb, other verbs can convey a causative meaning depending on context. 2.1. Machen (to make/do) "Machen" can sometimes imply causation, especially when something is created or caused to happen, but it's less direct than "lassen" for "having something done". Er macht mich glücklich. (He makes me happy.) - Here, "machen" causes a state. Sie macht die Tür auf. (She opens the door.) - She causes the door to be open. 2.2. Veranlassen (to cause/arrange) "Veranlassen" is a more formal verb meaning "to cause," "to arrange," or "to initiate." It often implies a more deliberate act of causing something. Structure: Subject + veranlassen (conjugated) + Object + zu + Infinitive Example: Der Chef veranlasste ihn, die Arbeit zu beenden. (The boss caused him to finish the work.) Example: Ich werde die Lieferung veranlassen. (I will arrange the delivery.) 2.3. Bewegen (to move/induce) "Bewegen" can mean "to induce" or "to persuade" someone to do something. Structure: Subject + bewegen (conjugated) + Object + zu + Infinitive Example: Er hat mich dazu bewegt, meine Meinung zu ändern. (He induced me to change my mind.) 3. Passive Voice vs. Causative "Lassen" It's important to distinguish between the passive voice and the causative "lassen". 3.1. Passive Voice (Werden + Past Participle) The passive voice focuses on the action being performed on the object, without necessarily implying a causative agent. Das Auto wird repariert. (The car is being repaired.) - Focus on the car and the action. 3.2. Causative "Lassen" (Lassen + Infinitive) The causative "lassen" explicitly states that the subject causes or arranges for the action to happen, usually by someone else. Ich lasse das Auto reparieren. (I have the car repaired.) - I arrange for the car to be repaired (by someone else). The causative "lassen" often has a similar meaning to an English passive construction with "have/get something done", but the German structure is active. 4. Examples and Nuances Permission: Lass uns gehen! (Let's go!) Order/Request: Lass mich in Ruhe! (Leave me alone!) Self-causation: Ich lasse mich überraschen. (I'll let myself be surprised / I'll be surprised.) Leaving something: Ich lasse die Tür offen. (I leave the door open.) - Here, "lassen" functions like "to leave".