Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-게 하다
make / let someone do; make something be
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Causative: the subject makes or allows someone (marked 에게/한테 or 을/를) do something. Works with almost any verb or adjective.
Forming it
| 가다 | → 가게 하다 |
| 먹다 | → 먹게 하다 |
| 웃다 | → 웃게 하다 |
| 기다리다 | → 기다리게 하다 |
With suffix causatives the meaning differs: 먹이다 = feed directly; 먹게 하다 = get someone to eat by themselves.
Examples
엄마는 아이에게 채소를 먹게 했어요.
The mom made the child eat vegetables.
제가 늦어서 친구를 오래 기다리게 했어요.
I was late, so I made my friend wait a long time.
Compared with similar patterns
Suffix causatives (먹이다, 입히다) exist only for some verbs and suggest direct action. -도록 하다 can also be causative but is more formal.