A causative verb can express causing, arranging, or allowing an action. In Mara had Eli check the latch, Mara arranged the check and Eli performed it. The words after the causative verb show who does the action or what it affects.
Make, have, get, and let
- Make + object + base form. The noise made the dog bark.
- Have + object + base form. Mara had Eli check the latch.
- Get + object + to-infinitive. Mara got Eli to check the latch.
- Let + object + base form. Mara let Eli leave early.
When the action is done to something
Mara had the latch checked and Mara got the latch checked describe arranging or getting the work done. The past participle checked follows the thing that was checked. See infinitive for the difference between the base form and the form with to.
