Have + gerund

Question

HelloIs this causative structure?   I know causative "have + verb" ,donot know "have + gerund""...I had people cheering, shouting and clapping in groups as loud as they could.."Thanks

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

sunsailIs this causative structure?

Yes. That structure can be considered causative in meaning. It contains the idea of a successful effort to bring about an activity or to establish a habit.

CJ

Sunsail · Answer

what is the difference then if I say

I had people cheer

sometimes I hear " I get them going "

Thanks

Philip · Answer

I believe that any time the subject of a sentences "causes" someone else to do something it can be considered a causative construction.

CalifJim · Answer

sunsailwhat is the difference

The bare infinitive is static and emotionally remote and cool; the gerund is dynamic and emotionally involved and active.

I had them cheer. I arranged for them to cheer, and they did. I ordered them to cheer, and they did. I asked them to cheer, and they did. [The listener imagines an occasion in which they cheered because they agreed to an arrangement I had previously made with them to do so.]

The boss had me send the letters.
I had the students learn a few irregular verbs.
The police had the prisoner taken to court in handcuffs.

I had them cheering. I behaved in such a way that they had begun to cheer. I experienced the success of seeing them cheer because of what I had done. I experienced the success of having encouraged them to cheer because of my behavior, and they were cheering. [The listener imagines the very moment at which they were cheering in the excitement of the moment, as if it were happening before his eyes -- and perhaps my happiness at having succeeded in behaving so as to encourage them to the point that they were cheering.]

The comedian had us laughing for a half hour without stopping.

Laura had the bird eating out of her hand after only a few months of training.
The musicians had the audience clapping their hands and stamping their feet before the evening was over.

CJ

Sunsail · Answer

Thank you very much for this brief and wide explanation. Last question

Is there a connection with this and below one?

"I saw her coming across the street"
"I saw her come across the street"
"I see him eating sandwich"

Only difference in this structure is these verbs are not causative verbs.

Best Regards

Jovan · Answer

nice example

CalifJim · Answer

sunsailIs there a connection ~~with~~ between this and ~~below one~~ the ones below?

"I saw her coming across the street"
"I saw her come across the street"
"I see him eating sandwich"

Yes. It's the same basic principle, but without the causation, as you say.

The infinitive makes the listener think of something as a finished event. The focus is on a point in time after the entire event has already happened.

I saw him eat a sandwich. [The listener may be left thinking of an empty plate. The time focus is somewhat remote from the actual event, and after it.]

The gerund makes the listener think of something as an on-going activity. The focus is on the period of time in which the activity was actually happening.

I saw him eating a sandwich. [The listener may be left thinking of someone chewing. The time focus is very close to the activity -- right in the midst of it, in fact.]

CJ

Sunsail · Answer

Thanks for your brief explanation and corrections.
Best Regards

Have + gerund

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