Causative Verbs: Hacer, Dejar, Permitir
Causative verbs express that one person causes or allows another person to do something. Spanish has specific structures for these constructions that differ from English.
Core Pattern: Causative verb + infinitive (+ optional indirect object pronoun)
Hacer + Infinitive (To Make/Have Someone Do)
Hacer is the primary causative verb, meaning "to make" or "to have someone do something."
Structure
Hacer + infinitive + direct object
Hice trabajar a los empleados. (I made the employees work.) El profesor hizo repetir la lección. (The teacher made [us] repeat the lesson.)
With Pronouns
When both doer and action object are present, use this pattern:
Hacer + indirect object pronoun + infinitive + direct object
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Le hice leer el libro. | I made him read the book. |
| Les hice escribir una carta. | I made them write a letter. |
| Me hizo reír. | He/she made me laugh. |
| Te haré cambiar de opinión. | I'll make you change your mind. |
With two pronouns: Se lo hice firmar. (I made him sign it.) [se = le, lo = the document]
Common Expressions
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hacer saber | to let know | Te haré saber mi decisión. (I'll let you know my decision.) |
| hacer ver | to make see, point out | Le hice ver su error. (I made him see his mistake.) |
| hacer venir | to send for | Hice venir al médico. (I sent for the doctor.) |
| hacer esperar | to keep waiting | No me hagas esperar. (Don't keep me waiting.) |
Hacerse (Reflexive - To Have Something Done)
Use reflexive hacerse when you have someone do something for you:
Me hice cortar el pelo. (I had my hair cut.) Se hizo construir una casa. (He had a house built for himself.) Me hice hacer un traje. (I had a suit made.)
Compare: Corté el pelo (I cut hair - as a barber) vs. Me corté el pelo (I cut my own hair) vs. Me hice cortar el pelo (I had someone cut my hair).
Dejar + Infinitive (To Let/Allow)
Dejar means "to let" or "allow" someone to do something (less forceful than hacer).
Structure
Dejar + infinitive or Dejar + que + subjunctive
Déjame explicar. (Let me explain.) No me dejan salir. (They don't let me go out.) Deja que te ayude. (Let me help you.) [with subjunctive]
Examples
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Dejé salir al perro. | I let the dog out. |
| No me dejan entrar. | They won't let me in. |
| Déjalo ir. | Let him go. |
| ¿Me dejas usar tu coche? | Will you let me use your car? |
Dejar de + Infinitive (To Stop Doing)
Important contrast: Dejar de means "to stop" or "quit":
Dejé de fumar. (I stopped smoking.) No dejes de llamarme. (Don't fail to call me.) Dejó de llover. (It stopped raining.)
Pattern shift: Dejar + infinitive = allow; Dejar de + infinitive = stop
Permitir + Infinitive (To Permit)
Permitir is more formal than dejar and often used in official contexts.
Structure
Permitir + infinitive or Permitir + que + subjunctive
No me permiten hablar. (They don't permit me to speak.) ¿Me permite pasar? (May I come in?) [formal] No permito que me hablen así. (I don't allow people to speak to me that way.)
Examples
| Context | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Formal request | ¿Me permite ver su identificación? | May I see your ID? |
| Permission denied | No se permite fumar. (impersonal) | Smoking is not permitted. |
| Prohibition | No permito que llegues tarde. | I don't allow you to be late. |
Mandar + Infinitive (To Order/Command)
Mandar implies giving an order or command:
El jefe me mandó trabajar el sábado. (The boss ordered me to work Saturday.) Mandé arreglar el coche. (I ordered the car to be fixed / I had the car fixed.) Te mando callar. (I order you to be quiet.)
Ordenar + Infinitive (To Order - Very Formal)
Ordenar is more formal than mandar:
El juez ordenó detener al sospechoso. (The judge ordered the suspect detained.) Le ordené que saliera. (I ordered him to leave.)
Prohibir + Infinitive (To Forbid)
Prohibir means to prohibit or forbid:
Les prohíbo salir de noche. (I forbid them to go out at night.) Está prohibido fumar. (Smoking is prohibited.) Te prohíbo que hables con él. (I forbid you to speak with him.)
Comparison Chart
| Verb | Force Level | Formality | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| hacer | Compulsion (make) | Neutral | Me hizo esperar. |
| mandar | Command (order) | Informal-Neutral | Me mandó esperar. |
| ordenar | Command (order) | Formal | Me ordenó esperar. |
| dejar | Permission (let) | Neutral | Me dejó esperar. |
| permitir | Permission (allow) | Formal | Me permitió esperar. |
| prohibir | Prohibition (forbid) | Formal | Me prohibió esperar. |
Impersonal Constructions
These causative verbs often appear in impersonal reflexive constructions:
Se hace saber que... (It is made known that...) No se permite fumar. (Smoking is not permitted.) Se prohíbe el paso. (Entry is forbidden.)
Common Errors
❌ Don't use gerund
❌ Me hizo esperando. ✅ Me hizo esperar.
❌ Don't use "que" with hacer + infinitive
❌ Le hice que estudiar. ✅ Le hice estudiar. OR Hice que estudiara. (with subjunctive)
❌ Don't confuse dejar vs. dejar de
❌ Dejé trabajar. (I let someone work) ✅ Dejé de trabajar. (I stopped working)
Practice
Completa: 'Mi madre me _____ limpiar mi cuarto.'
Completa: 'Por fin _____ de llover.'
Completa: '_____ cortar el pelo en la peluquería.'
Completa: 'El profesor no nos _____ usar el diccionario.'