让 / 叫 / 请 / 使 (causative)
Making someone (or something) do
- to let / make让 / variant of 叫叫 / to ask请 / to make使 + Person + Predicate = "make / let / ask / cause someone to …".
- this这to let / make让I / me我very很happy高兴 = "this makes me very happy."
- to make使 is the formal one, common with feelings and abstract causes.
Subj + to let / make让 / variant of 叫叫 / to ask请 / to make使 + Person + Predicate
- The middle person both receives the prompt and does the next action.
this这(measure word)件matter事make使me我very很moved感动。
- 这件事使I / me我very很to move (sb)感动 = "this moved me deeply."
Practice
This moved me deeply: 这件事 ____ 我很感动。
使 / 让 + Person + Predicate = cause sb to …: 这件事使我很感动.
Practice
The person sits between the causative verb and the next predicate.
Yes — Subj + 使 / 让 + Person + Predicate.
to make使 vs to let / make让
- to make使 is formal / written, often with emotions; to let / make让 is the everyday choice.
Explore
Correct or broken?
让 / 叫 / 使 hand the action to someone: verb + person + what they do or feel.
Practice
Which is the formal one, common with feelings?
使 = formal / written (often emotions); 让 = everyday.
Recap
Key idea
- Subj + to let / make让 / variant of 叫叫 / to ask请 / to make使 + Person + Predicate — cause someone to …
- this这to let / make让I / me我very很happy高兴 · 这件事使I / me我very很to move (sb)感动
- to make使 = formal (feelings / abstract); to let / make让 = everyday
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Verbs.