Causative Form (~saseru)
〜させる
The causative form expresses making or letting someone do something.
Pattern
U-verb: ~う → ~あせる | Ru-verb: ~る → ~させる | する → させる | くる → こさせる
Explanation
The causative form indicates that one person causes or allows another person to perform an action. For u-verbs, change the final -u to -aseru. For ru-verbs, replace -ru with -saseru. する becomes させる and くる becomes こさせる.
The causative can express two meanings depending on context: forcing someone to do something ('make someone do') or permitting someone to do something ('let someone do'). Context and the particle used help distinguish the two.
The person being made/let to do the action is marked with に for intransitive verbs and を for transitive verbs (though に is also commonly used). When expressing permission, ～させてください or ～させてもらう is frequently used.
Examples
母は子供に野菜を食べさせた。
はははこどもにやさいをたべさせた。
haha wa kodomo ni yasai wo tabesaseta.
The mother made the child eat vegetables.
先生は学生を立たせた。
せんせいはがくせいをたたせた。
sensei wa gakusei wo tataseta.
The teacher made the students stand up.
好きなことをさせてください。
すきなことをさせてください。
suki na koto wo sasete kudasai.
Please let me do what I like.
部長は私に報告書を書かせた。
ぶちょうはわたしにほうこくしょをかかせた。
buchou wa watashi ni houkokusho wo kakaseta.
The department head made me write the report.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
食べるの使役 → 食べあせる
Correct
食べさせる
For ru-verbs, replace る with させる, not あせる. The あせる pattern is for u-verbs only.
Wrong
先生は学生に立たせた。
Correct
先生は学生を立たせた。
For intransitive verbs in causative, the person doing the action is typically marked with を (not に).
Wrong
行かせる → 行かさせる
Correct
行かせる
Do not double the causative suffix. 行く is an u-verb so it becomes 行かせる, not 行かさせる.
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