Let passive

Question

In the case of causative 'let',
a. I let her write a letter.
b. I let a letter (be) written.

Does 'let' require 'be' when passivized?
I can't find the relevant information about this problem in any of my grammar reference books. Which book would you suggest for this matter?

GPY · Accepted Answer

"be" is required.

Clive · Answer

'Let' here (with a subject) means 'allowed (to)', 'permitted'. I wouldn't call that a causative.

Without a subject, it is considered an imperative.
eg Let a letter be written!
eg Let the Games begin!
But this is not a common usage.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

cho7712... Does 'let' require 'be' when passivized?

In your examples, 'let' is not passivized. Rather, 'write a letter' is passivized. (If you passivized 'let', 'I let her' would become 'She was let to', and this construction is so rare that it is considered ungrammatical by most grammarians.)

In any case 'be' is required, but note that the resulting construction is rare.
_________

It's debatable which verbs should be called "causative". Some websites, for example, claim that only 'have', 'let', and 'make' are truly causative verbs. Some claim that only 'have', 'make', and 'get' are truly causative. Others give a long list: cause, allow, help, have, enable, keep, hold, let, force, require, and make.

The differences in classification depend on whether the emphasis is on syntax (have them sing; let them sing; make them sing) or on semantics (cause them to sing; force them to sing; make them sing) or a mix of both.

The terminology regarding the passivization of causatives is also a miasma of conflicting approaches. In some cases the discussion focuses on the passivization of the main verb (was let to, was made to, was forced to); in others, on the passivization of the residue (to let something be done; to cause something to be done; to have something done). I suppose some sort of double passivization could also be done (The house was made to be painted).

CJ

Cho7712 · Answer

Thank you all so much. Your answers are really helpful!

Let passive

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