
Causatives: Choosing between Make, Get & Have
I made him do
it
This construction means some form of force is used. It implies some resistance
or the result is somehow against the subjects will.
I twisted
his arm and made him drop his gun
The bank robber made us all lie on the floor.
The explosion made Mary jump.
I got him to
do it
This construction is usually a question of pursuasion. It is used when
it is necessary to convince someone to do something, or to trick someone
into doing something.
How did you get the boss to give
you a rise?
I forgot my key and had to get a neighbour to open the front door for
me.
Mary is very credulous. You can get her to believe anything.
I had him do
it.
This construction concerns an exercise of authority. It is best used when
someone in authority instructs someone under him. It includes things like
client relationships where the client is the authority. (The customer
is always right!)
The ugly sisters and their mother
had Cinderella do all the housework.
Thirty years ago most bosses had their secretaries type all their letters.
Have the hostess bring me another drink please.
There are examples where all three
could be considered appropriate:
The hypnotist
made his subject bark like a dog.
(The speaker sees it as a form of force used against someone)
The hypnotist
got his subject to bark like a dog.
(The speaker sees hypnotism as a form of pursasion or trickery)
The hypnotist
had his subject bark like a dog.
(The speaker sees the hypnotist as in a master/slave relationship.)
In this exercise sometimes two answers
could be right if you imagine a specific context. The correct
answers are the most natural in the contexts provided.
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