---
title: causative — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «causative» in the school dictionary: Causing something, acting as its cause («a causative factor», «the causative virus»). Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# causative

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** its, sentence, form, something, I, hair · **What happens:** cause, act, show, make, happen, have · **To what, where:** something, someone, form, hair, him, verb · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«causative» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [causative in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/causative.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Causing something, acting as its cause («a causative factor», «the causative virus»).

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:m1:1
# text = Causing something, acting as its cause («a causative factor», «the causative virus»).
1	Causing	cause	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
2	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
4	acting	act	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	conj	_	_
5	as	as	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	cause	cause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
8	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	causative	causative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	factor	factor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	causative	causative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | gerund |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition something=Patient |
| 2 | **act** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | as its cause | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent as cause=Attribute |
| 3 | **cause** |  | its *= it* |  |  |  |  |  | nom cause «event transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: grammar — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A form of a verb or sentence that shows someone makes something happen or has it done, like «I had my hair cut» or «She made him laugh».

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:m2:1
# text = A form of a verb or sentence that shows someone makes something happen or has it done, like «I had my hair cut» or «She made him laugh».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	form	form	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	9	nsubj	_	_
9	shows	show	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	acl:relcl	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	_
11	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	11	obj	_	_
13	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
15	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	conj	_	_
16	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	obj	_	_
17	done	do	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
19	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	22	mark	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	22	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	22	nsubj	_	_
22	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
23	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	24	nmod:poss	_	_
24	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	22	obj	_	_
25	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	25	punct	_	_
27	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	30	cc	_	_
28	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	30	nsubj	_	_
30	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	22	conj	_	_
31	him	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	30	obj	_	_
32	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	30	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	32	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | present | sentence |  | someone |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent someone=Recipient |
| 2 | **make** | present | a form of a verb or sentence | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **happen** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **have** | present | a form of a verb or sentence *not said here* | form |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **do** | participle | form *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 6 | **have** *in a quote* | past | I | my hair |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **cut** *in a quote* | participle | my hair *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 8 | **make** *in a quote* | past | She | him *= he* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 9 | **laugh** *in a quote* | infinitive | him *= he* *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 10 | **form** |  |  | a verb or sentence |  |  |  |  | nom form «communication transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Scientists found the causative virus of the illness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:x1:1
# text = Scientists found the causative virus of the illness.
1	Scientists	scientist	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	found	find	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	causative	causative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	virus	virus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	illness	illness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | past | Scientists | the causative virus of the illness |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent virus=Topic |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Smoking is a causative factor in many lung diseases.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:x2:1
# text = Smoking is a causative factor in many lung diseases.
1	Smoking	smoking	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	causative	causative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	factor	factor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
8	lung	lung	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	diseases	disease	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Smoking | a causative factor |  | many lung diseases |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"I had my bike repaired" is a causative sentence.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:x3:1
# text = "I had my bike repaired" is a causative sentence.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	11	parataxis	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	bike	bike	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	repaired	repair	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	causative	causative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** *in a quote* | past | I | my bike |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **repair** *in a quote* | participle | my bike *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn remedy-45.7 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | present |  | a causative sentence |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the causative, the person doing the work is often not named.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:x4:1
# text = In the causative, the person doing the work is often not named.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	causative	causative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
7	doing	do	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	_
11	often	often	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	named	name	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **do** | gerund | the person *not said here* | the work |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Eventuality |
| 2 | **not** **name** | present · passive |  | the person |  | the causative |  | often *property* | vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Make" is a causative verb in "Mum made me tidy my room".

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:x5:1
# text = "Make" is a causative verb in "Mum made me tidy my room".
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Make	make	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	causative	causative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	in	in	SCONJ	IN	_	11	mark	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
11	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	advcl	_	_
12	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	15	nmod:poss	_	_
15	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Make | a causative verb |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** *in a quote* | past | Mum | me |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **tidy** *in a quote* | infinitive | me *not said here* | my room |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The doctor explained the causative link between sugar and tooth decay.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:x6:1
# text = The doctor explained the causative link between sugar and tooth decay.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explained	explain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	causative	causative	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	link	link	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	between	between	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	tooth	tooth	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	decay	decay	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | past | the doctor | the causative link |  |  |  | between sugar and tooth decay | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent link=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We practised causatives: "I got my hair cut", "She had her eyes tested".

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:causative:x7:1
# text = We practised causatives: "I got my hair cut", "She had her eyes tested".
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	practised	practise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	causatives	causative	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	7	punct	_	_
5	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	got	get	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	parataxis	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	cut	cut	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
16	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	17	nmod:poss	_	_
17	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nsubj	_	_
18	tested	test	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	15	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **practise** | past | We | causatives |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **get** *in a quote* | past | I | my hair |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **cut** *in a quote* | participle | my hair *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 4 | **have** *in a quote* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **test** *in a quote* | past | her eyes |  |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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