This grammar shows that you make someone do something. It can also mean you let someone do something.
Verb [causative form]Primary
This grammar shows that you make someone do something. It can also mean you let someone do something.
先生は学生に本を読ませる。
The teacher makes the student read the book.
母は子供にゲームをさせてあげました。
The mother let her child play a game.
部下に無理な残業はさせない方針です。
It is our policy not to make subordinates do unreasonable overtime.
友達を待たせているから、もう行かなくちゃ。
I'm making my friend wait, so I have to go now.
すみません、少し休ませていただけませんか？
Excuse me, could you please let me rest for a bit?
The causative form is like a two-sided coin. One side means 'make someone do something'. The other side means 'let someone do something'. You choose the right side based on the situation. You also consider who is talking to whom. For example, '子供に本を読ませる' can mean 'I make my child read'. Or it can mean 'I let my child read'.
This is different from 'to be made to do'. The causative form shows who makes someone do something. The other form shows who is forced to do it.
Don't use this when you want to say someone did something by themselves. For example, don't say "I made myself eat" if you mean "I ate." When you make someone do something, you use "を" if the verb has no direct object. You use "に" if the verb already has a direct object with "を."
Use this when you want to say that you make someone do something. You can also use it to say you let someone do something. It shows you caused an action.
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