Genki Grammar #126: Mastering Causative + te ageru / te kureru / te morau

Introduction

In this post, we’ll explore how causative verbs combine with てあげる, てくれる, and てもらう to express acts of letting someone do something in a way that reflects relationships and social context. You’ll also learn how to use this structure to ask for permission or to volunteer for a task. Let’s dive into this important and practical grammar point with simple explanations and examples.

What It Means

When てあげる, てくれる, or てもらう follows a causative verb, the meaning shifts to a “let” causative. This structure highlights who is granting permission (the director) and who is being allowed to act (the cast).

For example:

• 先生は私に英語を話させてくれませんでした。
  (Sensei wa watashi ni eigo o hanasete kuremasen deshita)
  The professor did not allow me to speak in English.

The verbs:

1. てあげる: When the director lets the cast act for their benefit.
2. てくれる: When the director lets the cast act as a favor to the speaker.
3. てもらう: When the cast is allowed to act by receiving permission from the director.

When to Use It

Use this structure when:

1. Granting permission: To describe letting someone do something.
   • Example: 私は自分の子供に好きなことをさせてあげるつもりです。
     (Watashi wa jibun no kodomo ni sukina koto o sasete ageru tsumori desu) I think I will let my children do what they love.
2. Requesting permission: To ask someone to let you do something.
   • Example: 私にこの仕事をやらせてください。
     (Watashi ni kono shigoto o yarasete kudasai) Please let me do this job.
3. Expressing Appreciation for Being Allowed to Act:
   • Example: 私は友だちに車を運転させてもらいました。
     (Watashi wa tomodachi ni kuruma o untensasete moraimashita) I was allowed to drive my friend’s car (and I appreciate it).

Examples

Here are examples with てあげる, てくれる, and てもらう:

1. Granting Permission (てあげる)
   • 私は妹にゲームをさせてあげました。
     (Watashi wa imouto ni geemu o sasete agemashita) I let my younger sister play games.
2. Permission as a Favor (てくれる)
   • 先生は私に話をさせてくれました。
     (Sensei wa watashi ni shitsumon o kikasete kuremashita) The teacher let me speak (as a favor).
3. Receiving Permission (てもらう)
   • 私は友だちに部屋で宿題をさせてもらいました。
     (Watashi wa tomodachi ni heya de shukudai o sasete moraimashita) I was allowed to do homework in my friend’s room.
4. Requesting Permission (てください)
   • 私にそのプロジェクトを担当させてください。
     (Watashi ni sono purojekuto o tantou sasete kudasai) Please let me take charge of that project.

Notes

1. “Let” causative focus:
   • Adding てあげる, てくれる, or てもらう almost always gives the causative a “let” meaning instead of a “make” meaning.
2. Polite Requests with てください:
   • Use causative verb + てください to politely ask for permission or offer to do something.
3. Social Context Matters:
   • Choose てあげる, てくれる, or てもらう based on the relationships between the people involved (e.g., showing respect, offering help, or receiving kindness).

Conclusion

The combination of causative verbs with てあげる, てくれる, and てもらう is a powerful way to describe permissions, favors, and requests in Japanese. By mastering this grammar point, you can express subtle social dynamics and navigate complex situations with ease.

Recommended Resources

For a deeper understanding of Causative + te ageru / te kureru / te morau, I recommend the book Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication. This book provides clear explanations and practical examples of Japanese grammar patterns, including how to use causative verbs with expressions like te ageru, te kureru, and te morau. If you want to explore these structures further and see how they fit into real-life communication, this book is an excellent resource to expand your knowledge.