Le faire causatif

1
Le faire causatif
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The conjugated verb faire an infinitive
indicates someone is making someone do something.

• Linstitutrice fait travailler les élèves.
• The teacher makes the children work.
• Elle les fait lire et écrire.
• She makes them read and write.

3
Faire infinitive can also mean someone has
something done by someone. Par is used to
indicate the person doing the action.

• Il a fait réparer sa voiture par le méchanicien.
• He had his car repaired by the mechanic.
• Elles vont faire construire une maison par un
  nouvel architecte.
• They are going to have a house built by a new
  architect.

4
Faire infinitive can also show something is (or
is not) causing something to happen.

• La guerre fait souffrir tant de gens.
• War makes so many people suffer.
• Le soleil fait fondre la glace.
• The sun is melting the ice.
• Le film na pas fait rire ces enfants.
• The film didnt make these children laugh.

5
NOTE There is never agreement with a preceding
direct object in the passé composé with causative
faire.

• Ce film? Il ne les a pas fait rire.
• This film? It didnt make them laugh.
• As-tu vu Amélie? Qui la fait pleurer?
• Did you see Amelie? Who made her cry?

6
NOTE Laisser infinitive means to let someone
do something, to let something happen. There is
only agreement with a preceding direct object if
that object is doing the action of the infinitive.

• Elle a laissé sortir ses chiens.
• She let her dogs go out.
• Elle les a laissés sortir.
• She let them (her dogs) go out.
• Elle les a laissé examiner par le vétérinaire.
• She let the vet examine them.