Causative Verbs: Hacer, Dejar, Mandar

Learn to express causation: making, letting, or having someone do something.

Hacer + Infinitive (Make/Have someone do)

Structure: hacer + infinitive + (object)

Expresses causing someone to do something:

Hice llorar a María. (I made María cry.) El profesor me hizo estudiar. (The teacher made me study.) Eso me hace pensar. (That makes me think.)

With object pronouns: Lo hice esperar. (I made him wait.) Me hizo reír. (He/She made me laugh.)

Hacer + Infinitive (Get something done)

When you have someone else do something for you:

Me corté el pelo. (I cut my hair - myself) Me hice cortar el pelo. (I had my hair cut - by someone else)

Voy a hacer reparar el coche. (I'm going to have the car repaired.)

Dejar + Infinitive (Let/Allow someone to do)

Structure: dejar + infinitive

Expresses permission or allowing:

Déjame hablar. (Let me speak.) No me dejan salir. (They don't let me go out.) Mis padres no me dejan usar el coche. (My parents don't let me use the car.)

With object pronouns: Lo dejé pasar. (I let him pass.) ¿Me dejas ver? (Will you let me see?)

Dejar de + Infinitive (Stop doing)

Different meaning: to stop doing something:

Dejé de fumar. (I stopped smoking.) No dejes de llamar. (Don't stop calling.)

Mandar + Infinitive (Order someone to do)

Structure: mandar + infinitive

Expresses commanding or ordering:

El jefe me mandó trabajar. (The boss ordered me to work.) Te mando a callar. (I order you to be quiet.) Mandé limpiar la casa. (I ordered the house to be cleaned.)

Permitir/Dejar (Allow/Let)

Both mean "to allow," but used differently:

Permitir + que + subjunctive: No permito que fumes aquí. (I don't allow you to smoke here.)

Dejar + infinitive: No te dejo fumar aquí. (I don't let you smoke here.)

Hacer vs Dejar

Hacer (make - force/cause): Me hizo comer. (He made me eat - I had to)

Dejar (let - allow): Me dejó comer. (He let me eat - I had permission)

Mandar vs Hacer

Mandar (order - command): Me mandó salir. (He ordered me to leave.)

Hacer (make - cause): Me hizo salir. (He made me leave.)

Mandar implies direct authority/command; hacer can be more subtle influence.

With Reflexive Verbs

Me hice ver por el médico. (I had myself examined by the doctor.) Se dejó convencer. (He let himself be convinced.)

Common Expressions

hacer reír (to make laugh) hacer llorar (to make cry) hacer pensar (to make think) hacer esperar (to make wait) dejar pasar (to let pass) dejar entrar (to let in) dejar salir (to let out)

Mandarse a + Infinitive (Have something done)

Me mandé a hacer un traje. (I had a suit made.)

Practice