Causatives: Hacer, Dejar, Mandar

What Are Causative Constructions?

Causative constructions express that someone causes or allows another person to do something. Instead of doing the action yourself, you make, let, or order someone else to do it. In Spanish, the main causative verbs are hacer (make/have), dejar (let/allow), and mandar (order/command).

The Three Main Causative Verbs

Key Concept

In causative constructions, you're not doing the action -you're causing someone else to do it. The formula is simple: Causative verb + direct object pronoun + infinitive. The person who performs the action is expressed as the direct object.

Pattern 1: HACER + Infinitive (Make/Have Someone Do)

Use hacer to express causing or forcing someone to do something.

Pattern 2: DEJAR + Infinitive (Let/Allow Someone To Do)

Use dejar to express allowing or permitting someone to do something.

Pattern 3: MANDAR + Infinitive (Order/Command Someone To Do)

Use mandar to express ordering or commanding someone to do something.

Pronoun Placement

The direct object pronoun can go in two places. Option 1 is more common in everyday speech.

Other Causative-Type Verbs

1. Don't confuse causatives with direct commands

Causatives require someone to perform the action. If there's no other person involved, use a direct command or simple verb instead.

2. Using indirect object pronouns instead of direct

The person performing the action in a causative construction is the direct object, not the indirect object. Use lo/la/los/las, not le/les.

3. Forgetting the difference between hacer and dejar

These verbs have opposite meanings! Hacer implies causing or forcing something against resistance, while dejar implies giving permission or allowing.

4. Wrong word order with pronouns

The pronoun goes before the conjugated causative verb, not between the verb and the infinitive.

5. Mixing up mandar (order) with enviar (send)

Mandar can mean both "to order" (with infinitive) and "to send" (with a noun object). Context matters!

6. Using 'que + subjunctive' when a simple infinitive works

While "hacer/mandar/dejar que + subjunctive" is grammatically correct, the simple causative construction with the infinitive is more natural and common in everyday speech.