Make/Let Someone Do (-게 하다)
-게 하다
A periphrastic causative meaning 'make' or 'let' someone do something.
Pattern
Verb stem + -게 하다
Explanation
-게 하다 is the universal causative construction in Korean. Unlike the suffix causatives (-이/히/리/기/우/추), it can be applied to virtually any verb. It means 'to make someone do' or 'to let someone do' something, depending on context.
The person being made to act is marked with 에게 or 한테: 선생님이 학생들에게 책을 읽게 했어요 (The teacher made the students read the book). When the meaning is permissive ('let'), it can often be replaced by -도록 허락하다: 아이가 놀게 했어요 (I let the child play).
-게 하다 is considered less direct than suffix causatives. 웃기다 means 'make someone laugh' through inherent humor, while 웃게 하다 could mean creating conditions that cause laughter. For TOPIK Level 3, understanding both causative forms and when to use each is important.
Examples
선생님이 학생들에게 책을 읽게 했어요.
Seonsaengnimi haksaengdeurege chaekeul ilkge haesseoyo.
The teacher made the students read the book.
부모님이 저를 유학을 가게 하셨어요.
Bumonimi jeoreul yuhageul gage hasyeosseoyo.
My parents let me study abroad.
그 영화는 사람들을 울게 해요.
Geu yeonghwaneun saramdeureul ulge haeyo.
That movie makes people cry.
아이가 밖에서 놀게 했어요.
Aiga bakkeseo nolge haesseoyo.
I let the child play outside.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
학생들이 책을 읽게 했어요.
Correct
학생들에게 책을 읽게 했어요.
The person being made to do something is marked with 에게, not 이/가, when the causative agent is the subject.
Wrong
저를 공부하게 해요.
Correct
저에게 공부하게 해요.
Use 에게 to mark the person caused to act. 를/을 marks the direct object of the action, not the person.
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