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CWLee Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Regarding causative 'make'

Hello teachers,

Does the following passage have no problem, especially regarding the underlined part?

The methods of the trainers allegedly included beating, starvation, and even "killing practice", which involved training the dog named Ken to attack and tear apart dummies. Next, Ken was made to attack weaker dogs. But Ken refused to attack them.

Is it possible to deny the actualization of the event when causative make is used in the passive?

Gille was made to compose a poem, but she didn't.

Gille was caused to compose a poem, but she didn't.

What do you think of these sentence?

Please help me out with these sentences.

Thank you in advance.
  

Top answer

I think it sounds odd. They tried to make Ken attack weaker dogs. But Ken refused to do it.

— Mister Micawber

  • I think it sounds odd.
  • They tried to make Ken attack weaker dogs.
  • But Ken refused to do it.
  • Her teacher attempted to get Gille to compose a poem, but she wouldn't.
  • Gille was caused to compose a poem, but she didn't.
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2 Answers
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I think it sounds odd.

They tried to make Ken attack weaker dogs. But Ken refused to do it.

Her teacher attempted to get Gille to compose a poem, but she wouldn't.

Gille was caused to compose a poem, but she didn't.-- 'Cause' does not work in passive this way in any case.
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