A causative construction expresses that someone makes another person perform an action. The subject causes the event, but the one who executes it may be another participant in the sentence. In Portuguese, we use verbs like "fazer" and "deixar" to build this meaning. The focus is to convey cause and effect rather than just who physically does it.

"Make" + infinitive indicates that the subject causes an action, usually performed by another person. This structure is equivalent to "make" or "have" in English in many contexts. The infinitive comes without a preposition and can appear with or without the explicit agent. The direct object is typically the person who will perform the action.

"Let" + infinitive indicates permission or consent, not only causation. The main meaning is to allow someone to perform an action. The direct object is the one who receives the permission and the infinitive is the permitted action. The structure is parallel to "let" in English in many cases.

In causatives with "make" or "let", the agent of the action can appear as the direct object. In that case, the infinitive agrees with the agent when it contains an expressed subject, especially in formal speech. With pronouns, it is common to position the pronoun next to the infinitive or the main verb, depending on style and variety.

It is also possible to use causatives without explicitly mentioning who performs the action. In these cases, the sentence focuses on the result caused by the subject. This construction is common with services, administrative decisions, and situations in which the agent is generic or irrelevant. The meaning remains causative, even without the agent on the surface.

The causative can appear combined with the passive voice to emphasize the result, not the executor. With "make", it is possible to use "be" + past participle as a complement, especially in formal registers. This combination tends to appear when what is important is the event that was carried out, not who exactly carried it out. The choice depends on the informational focus of the sentence.

"Mandar" + infinitive can also express causation, but with a sense of order or instruction. The subject usually has authority over the agent, and the sentence conveys command, not just permission or provocation. The direct object is the executor, as in other causatives. The use of "mandar" can sound stronger or more directive.

The verbs "make", "let", or "mandar" are normally conjugated in the tense of the sentence. The infinitive remains unchanged and expresses the caused action. For clear sequences, the tense of the main verb locates the causation event and the context indicates the order or simultaneity of the actions. Temporal agreement depends on what the sentence aims to narrate.

The choice between 'make', 'let', and 'mandar' depends on the sense: to cause, to permit, or to order. 'Make' is neutral for causation, 'let' focuses on permission, and 'mandar' on command. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'deixar' is very productive for everyday permissions. In formal contexts, it's common to prefer structures with 'fazer' and, if necessary, combine with passive.

The core of the causative is stable, but there are regional preferences in vocabulary and formality. In Brazilian Portuguese, "deixar" is very frequent with the sense of permission in everyday speech. In some contexts, especially in Portugal, constructions with "ter" a + infinitive for obligation may appear, which is not exactly causative. This module focuses on the central causatives shared.