Korean Grammar: Causative verbs 

 

I-1. Noun 시키다 to order Noun

 

The verb 시키다 means 'to order' or 'to command'; therefore, it is used as a causative verb and is placed after a noun. For example, 공부 시키다 is a compound word of 공부 and 시키다. 공부 시키다 means 'to make someone study.' Similarly, 커피 시키다 means 'to order a cup of coffee.'

 

 

The indirect object markers 에게 or 한테 are commonly used in sentences with a causative verb because they indicate that someone is making another person do something orally; in other words, when they order or request someone to do something, indirect object markers are used. For example, 그에게 심부름 시키다 means 'to make him run an errand by requesting him to do it.'

 

 

I-2. …(으)라고 시키다 to make someone …

 

The verb 시키다 means 'to order' or 'to command.' Therefore, …라고 시키다 is used as a causative expression, which combines with the infinitive stem of the verb. 

 

Ex) 동생에게 공부하라고 시켰어요. I made my younger sibling study.

      (Literally it means, “I ordered my younger sibling to study.”)

 

Ex) 학생들에게 책을 읽으라고 시켰어요. I made my students read a book.

      (Literally it means, “I ordered my students to read a book.”)

 

• The indirect object markers 에게 or 한테 are used because someone makes another person do something orally; in other words, when they request someone to do something. 

 

 

 

Similar expression: …라고 (말)하다 to tell someone to … (imperative) 

 

Ex) 동생에게 공부하라고 (말)했어요. I told my younger sibling to study.

 

Ex) 학생들에게 책을 읽으라고 (말)했어요. I told my students to read a book.

 

 

 

심부름하다	To run an errand	심부름 시키다 심부름하라고 시키다 심부름하라고 하다	To make someone run an errand To make someone run an errand To tell someone to run an errand
청소하다	To clean	청소 시키다 청소하라고 시키다 청소하라고 하다	To make someone clean To make someone clean To tell someone to clean
배달하다	To deliver	배달 시키다 배달하라고 시키다 배달하라고 하다	To make someone deliver To make someone deliver To tell someone to deliver
설거지하다	To do the dishes	설거지 시키다 설거지하라고 시키다 설거지하라고 하다	To make someone do the dishes To make someone do the dishes To tell someone to do the dishes
목욕하다	To take a bath	목욕 시키다 목욕하라고 시키다 목욕하라고 하다	To make someone take a bath or to bathe To make someone take a bath To tell someone to take a bath
요리하다	To cook	요리 시키다 요리하라고 시키다 요리하라고 하다	To make someone cook To make someone cook To tell someone to cook
공부하다	To study	공부 시키다 공부하라고 시키다 공부하라고 하다	To make someone study To make someone study To tell someone to study
숙제하다	To do the homework	숙제 시키다 숙제하라고 시키다 숙제하라고 하다	To make someone do the homework To make someone do the homework To tell someone to study

         

 

Exercise 1) Translate the sentences into Korean or vice versa using “시키다” 

 

 

1) My friend made me study. 

 

→

 

 

2) I made her bring an umbrella. (우산 umbrella, 가져오다 to bring)

 

→

 

 

3) I ordered a cup of coffee. (커피 한 잔 a cup of coffee)

 

→

4) I ordered two plates of Bibimbap. (그릇 plate)

 

→

 

 

5) 그에게 심부름을 시켰어요. 

* Ordered to whom? Requested to whom? The information about to whom is the indirect object, which is why 에게 is appropriate.

→

 

 

6) 음식 배달을 시켰어요. (음식 배달 food delivery)

* Ordered what? The information about what is the direct object, which is why 을 is appropriate.

→

 

 

7) 그녀는 시키는 버릇이 있어서 사람들이 그녀를 안 좋아해요. 

      (시키는 버릇 habit of commanding others)

 

→

 

 

8) 점심 때 음식을 배달시켜 먹었고 점심을 먹은 후에 커피도 시켜 마셨어요.

      (…ㄴ 후에 after …ing, 배달시켜 먹다 to order delivery and eat, 시켜 마시다 to order and drink)

 

→

 

II.  …게 하다 to make someone …

    

게 하다 is the most commonly used causative verb, indicating “to make,” “to have,” or “to get (someone) to.” This expression is combined with the stem of an infinitive verb or adjective.

 

게 하지 마(세요) is a combination of …게 하다 ("to make someone") and …지 마(세요) ("don't…(please)"), so …게 하지 마(세요) means "Don't make someone…(please)."

 

Depending on the context, direct object markers 을/를, indirect object markers 에게/한테, or secondary subject markers 이/가 are used when the expression …게 하다 is present within a sentence. For example:

 

Ex) 어머니는 아이에게 공부하게 했어요. (or) 어머니는 아이가 공부하게 했어요.

       The mother made her child study.

• The mother made her child study by asking, so asking to whom? The information about to whom is the indirect object, which is why 에게 is appropriate. Additionally, the secondary subject marker 가 is also appropriate because the mother caused the child to be the doer of the verb 공부하다 ("to study"). Therefore, using 가 is correct as well.

 

 

Ex) 뭐가 저를 행복하게 하는지 알아요. 

       I know what makes me happy.

• Make who be happy? The information about whom is the direct object, which is why 를 is appropriate.

 

 

Ex) 저를 화나게 하지 마세요. Don’t make me be angry, please.

• Make who be angry? The information about whom is the direct object, which is why 를 is appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise 2) Translate the sentences into Korean or vice versa.

 

1) He made her go to school.

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

 

 

2) He made me make a snowman. (눈사람 snowman)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

3) My Korean teacher made me write in Korean. (한국어로 in Korean)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

4) Please make the room bright by opening the window.

   (창문 window, 서 and then/by, 열다 to open, 방 room, 밝다 to be bright)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

5) I made my body cool down with some ice because the weather was very hot.

   (덥다 to be hot,얼음 ice, 차갑다 to be cold, 몸 body, 날씨 weather, (으)로 by/ through/ with)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

6) Please make yourself warm by wearing a lot of clothes because the weather is very cold. (따뜻하다 to be warm, 춥다 to be cold, 니까 because, 옷 clothes, 입다 to wear, ~서 by ~ing)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

7) I made them watch the documentary. (다큐멘터리 documentary)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

8) Please make the dish delicious by adding some sugar. 

    (설탕 sugar, 넣다 to put, 요리 dish, ~서 by ~ing)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

9) 저는 그들에게 청소하게 했어요. (or) 저는 그들이 청소하게 했어요.

• I made them clean by asking, so asking to whom? The information about to whom is the indirect object, which is why 에게 is appropriate. Additionally, the secondary subject marker 이 is also appropriate because I caused them to be the doer of the verb 청소하다 ("to clean"). Therefore, using 이 is correct as well.

 

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

10) 안 들리니까 목소리를 크게 하세요. (목소리voice, 크다 to be loud, 들리다 to be heard)

• Make what be loud? The information about what is the direct object, which is why 를 is appropriate.

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

11) 도서관에 있으니까 목소리를 작게 하세요. (도서관library, 작다 to be small)

• Make what be small? The information about what is the direct object, which is why 를 is appropriate.

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

12) 질투하게 하지 마요. (질투하다 to be jealous)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

13) 명상은 제 마음을 침착하게 해요. (명상 meditation, 마음 mind, 침착하다 to be calm)

• Make what be calm? The information about what is the direct object, which is why 을 is appropriate.

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

14) 요가는 제 마음을 차분하게 해요. (요가 yoga, 차분하다 to be calm)

• Make what be calm? The information about what is the direct object, which is why 을 is appropriate.

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

15) 저는 제 친구에게 사탕을 못 먹게 했어요. (or) 저는 제 친구가 사탕을 못 먹게 했어요.

      (사탕 candy, 못 …게 하다 make someone not to be able to …)

• I made my friend not to be able to eat by asking, so asking to whom? The information about to whom is the indirect object, which is why 에게 is appropriate. Additionally, the secondary subject marker 가 is also appropriate because I caused my friend to be the doer of the verb 먹다 ("to eat"). Therefore, using 가 is correct as well.

 

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

16) 다른 사람을 질투하게 한 적이 있어요? 

      (다른 사람 other people, 질투하다 to be jealous, …ㄴ 적이 있어요? Have you ever …?)

• Make who be jealous? The information about whom is the direct object, which is why 을 is appropriate.

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

17) What makes you happy? 

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

18) What do your parents tell you to do? 

      (부모님 parents, 부모님께서: 께서 is honorific subject marker to show respect to the subject) 

• A에게 …라고 하다 tell A to … (imperative)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

19) I told my kid to clean his room. (청소하다 to clean)

 

• A에게 …라고 하다 tell A to … (imperative)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

 

20) What do your grandparents make you do? 

      (조부모님 grandparents, 조부모님께서:  께서 is honorific subject marker to show respect to the subject)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

 

21) Have you ever made someone do something? 

      (누군가 someone, 뭔가 something,  …ㄴ 적이 있어요? Have you ever …?)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

 

22) They made the kid do as the kid wants. (원하는 대로/하고 싶은 대로as the subject wants)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

 

23) He always makes her smile. (웃다 to smile/laugh)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

24) I made him wait. (기다리다 to wait)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

25) I made the students review what they studied today. (복습하다 to review, 것 the thing/what)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

26) The employee made the customer buy the new product. 

        (직원 employee, 손님 customer, 신상품 new product)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

27) Children make their parents happy. (아이들 children, 부모님 parents)

 

→                                                                                                                                    .

 

 

 

Answers)

Exercise 1)

1. 제 친구는 저에게 공부하라고 시켰어요. (or) 제 친구는 저에게 공부(를) 시켰어요.

2. 저는 그녀에게 우산을 가져오라고 시켰어요.

3. 저는 커피 한 잔을 시켰어요. (or) 저는 커피 한 잔을 주문했어요.

4. 저는 비빔밥 두 그릇을 시켰어요. (or) 저는 비빔밥 이 인분을 시켰어요. (or) 저는 비빔밥 두 그릇을 주문했어요. (or) 저는 비빔밥 이 인분을 주문했어요.

5. I made him run an errand.

6. I made someone deliver food. (or) I ordered food delivery.

7. She has a habit of commanding others, so people don’t like her.

8. During lunchtime, I ordered food delivery and after eating lunch, I also ordered some coffee.

 

Exercise 2)

1. 그는 그녀가 학교에 가게 했어요. (or) 그는 그녀에게 학교에 가게 했어요.

 

2. 그는 제가 눈사람을 만들게 했어요. (or) 그는 저에게 눈사람을 만들게 했어요.

 

3. 제 한국어 선생님이 제가 한국어로 쓰게 했어요. (or) 제 한국어 선생님은 저에게 한국어로 쓰게 하셨어요. 

 

4. 창문을 열어서 방을 밝게 하세요. (or) 창문을 열어서 방을 밝게 해 주세요. → if “주세요” is added, it refers to “Please make the room bright for us”

 

5. 날씨가 너무 더워서 얼음으로 몸을 차갑게 했어요. (or) 날씨가 아주 더워서 얼음으로 몸을 차갑게 했어요. (or) 날씨가 매우 더워서 얼음으로 몸을 차갑게 했어요.

 

6. 날씨가 너무 추우니까 옷을 많이 입어서 따뜻하게 하세요. (or) 날씨가 너무 추우니까 많은 옷을 입어서 따뜻하게 하세요. (or) 날씨가 아주 추우니까 많은 옷을 입어서 따뜻하게 하세요. (or) 날씨가 아주 추우니까 옷을 많이 입어서 따뜻하게 하세요. (or) 날씨가 매우 추우니까 옷을 많이 입어서 따뜻하게 하세요. (or) 날씨가 매우 추우니까 많은 옷을 입어서 따뜻하게 하세요.

 

7. 저는 그들이 다큐멘터리를 보게 했어요. (or) 저는 그들에게 다큐멘터리를 보게 했어요.

 

8. 설탕을 넣어서 요리를 맛있게 하세요. (or) 설탕을 넣어서 요리를 맛있게 해 주세요. → if “주세요” is added, it refers to “please make the food for us or serve it to us”

 

9. I made them clean.

10. Please speak up because I can’t hear you.

11. Please lower your voice since I am at a library.

12. Don’t make me be jealous.

13. The meditation makes my mind calm.

14. Yoga makes my mind calm.

15. I made my friend not to eat the candy.

16. Have you ever made other people be jealous?

17. 뭐가 당신을 행복하게 해요?

18. 부모님께서 당신에게 뭐를 하라고 하세요? 

19. 저는 아이에게 (그의) 방을 청소하라고 했어요. 

20. 조부모님께서 당신이 뭐를 하게 하세요? (or) 조부모님께서 당신에게 뭐를 하게 하세요?

21. 누군가에게 뭔가를 하게 한 적이 있어요?

(or) 누군가에게 뭔가를 하게 해 본 적이 있어요?

(or) 누군가에게 뭔가를 하라고 시킨 적이 있어요?

(or) 누군가에게 뭔가를 하라고 시켜 본 적이 있어요?

22. 그들은 아이가 원하는 대로 하게 했어요. (or) 그들은 아이가 하고 싶은 대로 하게 했어요.

23. 그는 항상 그녀를 웃게 해요. (or) 그는 그녀를 항상 웃게 해요. 

24. 저는 그를 기다리게 했어요. 

25. 저는 학생들이 오늘 공부한 것을 복습하게 했어요. (or) 저는 학생들에게 오늘 공부한 것을 복습하게 했어요.

26. 직원은 손님에게 신상품을 사게 했어요. (or) 직원이 손님이 신상품을 사게 했어요.

27. 아이들은 부모님을 행복하게 해요.