The Korean grammar pattern ‘-게 하다’ is a commonly used causative verb form. It’s essential for expressing when someone makes or lets someone else do something. If you want to master Korean causative verbs (사동사), this structure is a must-know. In this post, you’ll learn what ‘-게 하다’ means, how to use it correctly, and see lots of real-life examples to help you use it naturally.
Contents
Korean Grammar Series:
Mastering 사동사 (Causative Verb Forms)
🔹 Part 1: Introduction to Causative Forms in Korean – What They Are and Why They Matter
🔹 Part 2: Causative Form Endings in Korean – How to Use 이, 히, 리, 기, 우, 구, 추
🔹 Part 3: Using ‘시키다’ in Korean – How to Make Someone Do Something
🔹 Part 4: Using -게 하다 in Korean – Letting or Making Someone Do Something
🔹 Part 5: Korean Causative Forms Compared -시키다 vs -게 하다 vs -도록 하다
1. Definition
‘-게 하다’ is a causative verb expression in Korean. It is used when someone makes, causes, or lets another person (or thing) do something.
In English, it is similar to:
- make someone do something
- let someone do something
- cause something to happen
This form is part of 사동사 (causative verbs) in Korean grammar.
2. Form (Structure)
‘-게 하다’ can be attached to both verbs and adjectives in Korean to create causative expressions. The structure slightly differs depending on whether you use a verb or an adjective, but the basic rule is to add ‘-게 하다’ to the stem.
How to form ‘-게 하다’:
- With verbs:
- Remove ‘-다’ from the verb (dictionary form) to get the stem.
- Add ‘-게 하다’ to the stem.
For example:
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹게 하다 (to make/let someone eat)
- 자다 (to sleep) → 자게 하다 (to make/let someone sleep)
- 일하다 (to work) → 일하게 하다 (to make/let someone work)
- With adjectives:
- Remove ‘-다’ from the adjective (dictionary form) to get the stem.
- Add ‘-게 하다’ to the stem.
For example:
무섭다 (to be scared) → 무섭게 하다 (to make someone scared)
슬프다 (to be sad) → 슬프게 하다 (to make someone sad)
기쁘다 (to be happy) → 기쁘게 하다 (to make someone happy)
| Tense/Usage | Structure | Example |
| Present | Verb stem + -게 하다 Adjective stem + -게 하다 | 웃게 하다 (to make someone laugh) 슬프게 하다 (to make someone sad) |
| Past | Verbstem + -게 했다 Adjective stem + -게 했다 | 울게 했다 (made someone cry) 기쁘게 했다 (made someone happy) |
| Future | Verb stem + -게 할 것이다 Adjective stem + -게 할 것이다 | 일찍 일어나게 할 것이다 (will make someone wake up early) 놀라게 할 것이다 (will make someone surprised) |
| Honorific | Verb stem + -게 하세요 Adjective stem + -게 하세요 | 공부하게 하세요 (please make him/her study) 행복하게 하세요 (please make him/her happy) |
| Negative | Verb stem + -지 않게 하다 Adjective stem + -지 않게 하다 | 걷지 않게 하다 (make sure not to walk) 무섭지 않게 하다 (make sure not to be scared) |
📌 Note:
- Both verbs and adjectives can be used with ‘-게 하다’ to create causative expressions.
- The structure is the same for verbs and adjectives: simply use the stem and add ‘-게 하다’ (or the appropriate tense/usage ending).
- With verbs, it means to make or let someone do an action.
- With adjectives, it means to cause someone to feel or become a certain way.
3. Meaning & Usage
1. To make someone do something
This use shows that the subject causes another person to do an action, often by giving orders or instructions.
- 엄마가 동생을 공부하게 했어요. (Mom made my younger sibling study.)
- 선생님이 학생들을 조용히 하게 했어요. (The teacher made the students be quiet.)
- 저는 아이를 일찍 자게 했어요. (I made my child sleep early.)
- 감독이 배우를 더 연습하게 했어요. (The director made the actor practice more.)
- 회사는 직원을 야근하게 했어요. (The company made the employee work overtime.)
2. To let someone do something
Depending on tone and context, it can also mean to allow or permit someone to do something.
- 부모님이 저를 여행하게 했어요. (My parents let me travel.)
- 선생님이 학생들을 발표하게 했어요. (The teacher let the students present.)
- 친구가 저를 먼저 가게 했어요. (My friend let me go first.)
- 사장이 직원들을 쉬게 했어요. (The boss let the employees rest.)
- 엄마가 아이를 놀게 했어요. (The mom let the child play.)
3. To cause something to happen
‘-게 하다’ can describe causing a certain state or situation, often with adjectives.
- 이 노래는 사람을 슬프게 해요. (This song makes people sad.)
- 그 말이 저를 기쁘게 했어요. (That remark made me happy.)
- 영화가 관객을 울게 했어요. (The movie made the audience cry.)
- 결과가 저를 놀라게 했어요. (The result surprised me.)
- 그 장면이 아이를 무섭게 했어요. (That scene scared the child.)
4. Key Points to Remember
- ‘-게 하다’ expresses making, letting, or causing someone/something to do or become something.
- The subject has control or influence over the action or result.
- It is one of the most common forms of 사동사 (causative verbs) in Korean.
5. Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of ‘-게 하다’.
- 선생님이 학생들을 ______.
(The teacher made the students quiet.) - 엄마가 아이를 일찍 ______.
(Mom made the child sleep early.) - 그 이야기가 저를 ______.
(That story made me cry.) - 친구가 저를 먼저 ______.
(My friend let me go first.) - 부모님이 저를 ______.
(My parents let me travel.) - 회사는 직원을 ______.
(The company made the employee work overtime.) - 이 영화는 사람을 ______.
(This movie makes people sad.) - 감독이 배우를 더 ______.
(The director made the actor practice more.) - 결과가 저를 ______.
(The result surprised me.) - 사장이 직원들을 ______.
(The boss let the employees rest.)
6. Answers
- 조용하게 했어요
- 자게 했어요
- 울게 했어요
- 가게 했어요
- 여행하게 했어요
- 야근하게 했어요
- 슬프게 해요
- 연습하게 했어요
- 놀라게 했어요
- 쉬게 했어요
7. Common Mistakes and Tips
⚠️ Mistake 1: Using ‘-게 하다’ when talking about your own actions
Incorrect: 저는 학교에 가게 했어요. ❌ (I made myself go to school.)
Correct: 저는 학교에 갔어요. ✅ (I went to school.)
💡 Tip: Use ‘-게 하다’ only when the subject is making someone else do something, not themselves.
⚠️ Mistake 2: Confusing ‘-게 하다’ with ‘-도록 하다’
Incorrect: 공부하게 하세요. ❌ (when you mean “please study yourself”)
Correct: 공부하도록 하세요. ✅ (Please make sure you study.)
💡 Tip: ‘-게 하다’ = cause someone else to do something; ‘-도록 하다’ = set up a situation or goal for an action.
If you want to learn more about the difference between ‘-게 하다’ and ‘-도록 하다’, click the button below.👇👇👇
⚠️ Mistake 3: Using it with adjectives that describe physical properties
Incorrect: 이 음식이 저를 맛있게 했어요. ❌ (This food made me delicious.)
Correct: 이 음식이 저를 행복하게 했어요. ✅ (This food made me happy.)
💡 Tip: When using adjectives, make sure they express a change in feeling or perception, not a physical property.
The grammar pattern ‘-게 하다’ is an essential causative form in Korean, used to express making or allowing someone to do something, or causing a state. By mastering this form, you’ll be able to communicate more clearly and naturally in Korean—especially when giving directions or describing cause and effect.