Korean grammar patterns › Level 3
-이/히/리/기/우/구/추-
causative verbs: feed, dress, make cry, wake (someone) up
Level 3 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
Added to some verbs and adjectives to make causative verbs: the subject makes someone or something do or be. The suffix must be learned per word: 먹이다, 입히다, 울리다, 웃기다, 깨우다, 돋구다, 낮추다.
Forming it
| 먹다 | → 먹이다 |
| 입다 | → 입히다 |
| 울다 | → 울리다 |
| 깨다 | → 깨우다 |
Suffix causatives usually mean the causer acts directly (입히다 = put clothes on someone); -게 하다 means getting someone to do it themselves.
Examples
엄마가 아기에게 우유를 먹였어요.
The mom fed the baby milk.
내일 아침 일곱 시에 저 좀 깨워 주세요.
Please wake me up at seven tomorrow morning.
Compared with similar patterns
-게 하다 works with almost any verb and is indirect. Some causative forms look like passives (보이다 = show / be seen), so check the object and context.