Let / Make / Have / Get

The following is a mini-tutorial on the use of the causative verbs "let," "make," "have," and "get." After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how to use these verbs, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.

MakeFORM[make + person + verb]

This construction means "to force someone to do something."

Examples:

My teacher made me apologize for what I had said.

Did somebody make you wear that ugly hat?

She made her children do their homework.

Have FORM[have + person + verb]

This construction means "to give someone the responsibility to do something."

Examples:

Dr. Smith had his nurse take the patient's temperature.

Please have your secretary fax me the information.

I had the mechanic check the brakes.

Get FORM[get + person + to + verb]

This construction usually means "to convince to do something" or "to trick someone into doing something."

Examples:Susie got her son to take the medicine even though it tasted terrible.

How can parents get their children to read more?

The government TV commercials are trying to get people to stop smoking.

Get vs. Have

Sometimes "get someone to do something" is interchangeable with "have someone do something," but these expressions do not mean exactly the same thing.

Examples:

I got the mechanic to check my brakes.

At first the mechanic didn't think it was necessary, but I convinced him to check the brakes.

I had the mechanic check my brakes.

I asked the mechanic to check the brakes.

Complete the sentences below using the correct form of the verbs "let," "make," "have," and "get," then click the .

 1. Sam really wanted a dog, but his parents wouldn't … him have a pet.

2. I can't believe she … you look at her vacation pictures again last night. We have to look at those stupid pictures every time we go to her house.

3. I don't know how you convince your children to clean up their rooms. I couldn't..  my children to clean up their rooms if my life depended on it.

4. Professor Yu … each of her students write an essay describing their future goals in life.

5. Professor Yu .. her students use a dictionary while they were taking the test.

6. Debbie's husband hates the opera. But after days of nagging, she finally … him to go see the new production of La Boheme.

7. Sally  …me take off my shoes before I went into her house. She said she wanted to keep the carpet clean.

8. Rebecca Smith requested a copy of that expense report, so I…  the courier take one over to her last week.

9. Diane thinks television is a waste of time, so she won't … her children watch TV.

10. Mr. Levine …. his secretary call Ms. Jackson and reconfirm their meeting on Thursday.

11. Marcus  …me drive his new BMW. I couldn't believe how quickly it picked up speed.

12. How did you … the doctor to make a house call? I haven't heard of a doctor actually going to a patient's house in years.

13. My boss .. me get him coffee, pick up his dry cleaning and buy presents for his wife. He can't do anything by himself!

14. Tommy didn't want to go to his cousin's birthday party, but his mom .. him go.

15. I can't believe the zoo keeper .. you feed the snake. That was so cool!