TOEIC Causative Form: Pitfalls and Tips You Need to Know to Stop Getting It Wrong

The causative form allows us to say that a person arranges for something to be done by someone else, rather than doing it themselves. In the TOEIC®, it appears mostly in Parts 5 and 6 in professional contexts: repairs, services, delegations.

The main trap? Confusing "have something done" (passive causative) with "have someone do" (active causative). The meaning and structure change completely.

The two main causative structures

Have + Object + Past Participle (Passive Causative)

We use this structure when arranging for something to be done by someone, generally a professional or an external service provider. The focus is on the action performed, not on the person executing it.

Structure: Subject + have + object + past participle

• "We had the office renovated last month."
• "She needs to have her laptop repaired before the presentation."
• "They are having the documents translated into Spanish."

This form is ubiquitous in the TOEIC® context because it reflects realistic professional situations: maintenance, repairs, outsourced services.

Have + Person + Base Verb (Active Causative)

Here, we ask someone to do something. The focus is on the person carrying out the action.

Structure: Subject + have + person + base verb

• "The manager had his assistant send the report."
• "Could you have John call me back?"

Comparative Table of Causative Structures

Get + Object + Past Participle: The Informal Variant

"Get + object + past participle" works like "have + object + past participle," but with a nuance. It suggests a personal effort or success in obtaining the service.

• "I finally got the printer fixed."
• "We need to get this contract reviewed by Friday."

In the TOEIC®, "get" appears less frequently than "have" in causative questions, but it is still present in Part 3 and 4 emails and dialogues.

Common Traps in Part 5

Past Participle / Base Verb Confusion

The most frequent trap? Hesitating between the past participle and the base verb after "have".

Simple Rule: If an object (thing) immediately follows "have," use the past participle. If a person follows "have," use the base verb.

• "We had the report send yesterday."-> Incorrect
• "We had the report sent yesterday."-> Correct
• "She had her assistant checked the files."-> Incorrect
• "She had her assistant check the files."-> Correct

Moreover, this confusion constantly reappears, even after learning the rule.

Why? Because in French, "faire + infinitive" works for both cases. The reflex to adopt: first identify what follows "have" (thing or person), then choose your form.

Verb Tenses and Causative

The causative form can be conjugated in all tenses. It is "have" or "get" that carries the tense marker, never the past participle.

• "They have had their website updated three times this year."
• "We will have the equipment installed next week."
• "She is having her office painted right now."

Table of Frequent Errors

Make and Let: Causatives of Constraint and Permission

Make + Person + Base Verb (Obligation)

"Make" expresses an obligation or compulsion. Someone forces another person to do something.

• "The new policy makes employees wear ID badges."
• "His mistake made us redo the entire project."

Let + Person + Base Verb (Permission)

"Let" expresses permission or authorization.

• "The company lets employees work from home on Fridays."

Note: With "make" and "let," we always use the base verb (without "to"), exactly like with "have + person".

Checklist for Part 5

Here is a quick method to choose the correct structure in 5 seconds:

This checklist works for 95% of causative questions on the TOEIC®. Even under pressure, you can apply it quickly if you review it before the test.

Typical Professional Contexts

In the TOEIC®, the causative form appears in specific situations:

Maintenance and Repairs

• "The facility manager had the air conditioning serviced before summer."

Administrative Services

• "Please have the contracts reviewed by the legal department."

Modifications and Upgrades

• "We're getting the conference room upgraded with new technology."

Task Delegation

• "I'll have my assistant schedule a meeting for next Tuesday."

With the candidates we coach, we see that recognizing these contexts helps enormously in Parts 6 and 7. The causative form appears in emails and notices. If you spot the word "have" followed by a noun, immediately think "causative" and check the structure.

Ready to Practice?

The causative form represents a specific grammar point that appears regularly on the TOEIC®, especially in Part 5. The good news? Once you master the distinction between "have + thing + past participle" and "have + person + base verb," you won't make mistakes anymore.

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