Japanese Grammar: Proper Particles with the Causative Form

This article is part of Wasabi grammatical support service. We’re more than delighted to answer any grammatical questions you may have without additional fee (*Wasabi user only). Today’s topic is how to use particles with the causative form.

Japanese Grammar: When It’s Appropriate to Use に and を with the Causative Form

Basic Idea of the Causative Form

Japanese causative form is equivalent to “to let/make someone do something” in English. However, unlike causative verbs in English such as “to let” and “to make,” Japanese doesn’t have any causative verbs, but expresses “to let” or “to make” by conjugating a verb into the same causative form.

The context basically tells whether it means “to let” or “to make.” However, if you attach 「あげる」 or 「くれる (ください)」, it’s likely to become “to let” such as 「先生せんせいは生せい徒とに日に本ほん語ごを勉べん強きょうさせてあげた (The teacher let the students learn Japanese)」. Now, you may have noticed that both particles; を and に are used differently. In some cases, を and に are interchangeable. In other cases, however, the selection of particles can make a sentence meaningless. Therefore, in this article you will learn the proper use of particles in detail.

Essential Rule of the Causative Form

With a Transitive Verb, Action Takers Are Always with に

Please don’t be confused with Japanese unique omissions. The (object) and the (action taker) are sometimes omitted in spoken Japanese. In sentences 1 and 2, the subject and the action taker are the same. In sentences 3 and 4, they are different. In either case, the action tacker should be with に and the objective should be with を.

With Emotional Actions, Action Takers Are Always with を

This is very simple. When someone causes something emotional, を is always used with action takers.

If Action Takers Are Non-animated, It Should Be with を

This also sounds simple, however, if non-animate existences (inanimate objects) are regarded as people or as something that has free will, に should be used like this 「ロボットに宿しゅく題だいをさせた (I made the robot do homework)」 and 「グーグルに調しらべさせた (I made Google search (it)」.

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Advanced Rule of the Causative Form

With an Intransitive Verb, Action Takers Can Be with に and を

This looks a little complicated, but there is a theory. If を is used in another point of the sentence, the particle with the action tacker should be に like this; 「先生せんせいは生せい徒とに安全あんぜんな道みちを歩あるかせた (The teacher made the students walk in the safe way)」 and 「先生せんせいは生せい徒とに身体からだを休やすませた. (The teacher made the students rest their body)」. Also, when you want to ‘make’ someone do something, it’s likely (not always) that を is preferred to に.

Additional Lesson: The Causative-Passive Form

This from can be simply translated into “someone is made to do something” and direction givers are usually with に.

Conclusion

In practice conversations, the causative form is often used for making an offer with 「くれる (ください)」 and 「もらう」 like this; 「手て伝つだわせてください (Please let me help you)」 or used for making a request like this; 「次つぎの月曜げつよう、休やすませて くれますか / もらえますか？ (Could you please let me take a leave on the next Monday?)」. That’s not difficult because the subject and the action taker are the same and the particle is usually omitted. However, in explanations, presentations, or formation situations, you may face or need to use the causative form with the proper particle. Thus, please try to remember the above rules or return here when necessary.

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