Allowing/Ordering to do: -게 하다

🔊

🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use

Korean Helper Widgets to listen to the rhythm of 먹게 했어요 [meok-ge hae-sseo-yo], 가게 했어요 [ga-ge hae-sseo-yo], and 기다리게 했어요 [gi-da-ri-ge hae-sseo-yo]. The key sound is the little bridge 게 between the action and 하다. 🎧

🌈 The Big Picture

• “make someone do” — stronger / ordered

• “let someone do” — allowed

• “have someone do” — arranged or instructed

• “cause something to become” — caused a result

• 아이가 자요. [a-i-ga ja-yo] — The child sleeps. 😴

• 엄마가 아이를 자게 했어요. [eom-ma-ga a-i-reul ja-ge hae-sseo-yo] — Mom made/let/had the child sleep. 😴

• 엄마가 — Mom

• 아이를 — the child

• 자게 — to sleep / so that the child sleeps

🎨 Core Pattern

Basic shape

• 동사/형용사 어간 + 게 하다

• Verb/adjective stem + 게 하다

• 가다 → 가게 하다 [ga-da → ga-ge ha-da] — to go → to make/let someone go

• 먹다 → 먹게 하다 [meok-da → meok-ge ha-da] — to eat → to make/let someone eat

• 읽다 → 읽게 하다 [ik-da → il-ge ha-da] — to read → to make/let someone read

• 기다리다 → 기다리게 하다 [gi-da-ri-da → gi-da-ri-ge ha-da] — to wait → to make/let someone wait

• 쉬다 → 쉬게 하다 [swi-da → swi-ge ha-da] — to rest → to let someone rest

• 조용하다 → 조용하게 하다 [jo-yong-ha-da → jo-yong-ha-ge ha-da] — to be quiet → to make something quiet

• 가게 해요 [ga-ge hae-yo] — make/let someone go

• 가게 했어요 [ga-ge hae-sseo-yo] — made/let someone go

• 가게 할 거예요 [ga-ge hal geo-ye-yo] — will make/let someone go

🛠️ How It Works in Sentences

1. 부모님이 아이를 일찍 자게 했어요. [bu-mo-ni-mi a-i-reul il-jjik ja-ge hae-sseo-yo] — The parents made/had the child sleep early. 😴
• 자다 = to sleep, 자게 하다 = make/let someone sleep.

2. 선생님이 학생에게 다시 쓰게 했어요. [seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-e-ge da-shi sseu-ge hae-sseo-yo] — The teacher made the student write it again. ✍️
• 쓰다 = to write, 쓰게 하다 = make/have someone write.

3. 엄마가 아이를 밖에서 놀게 했어요. [eom-ma-ga a-i-reul ba-kke-seo nol-ge hae-sseo-yo] — Mom let the child play outside. 🛝
• Here it feels like permission: “let.”

4. 매니저가 직원에게 먼저 설명하게 했어요. [mae-ni-jeo-ga ji-gwo-ne-ge meon-jeo seol-myeong-ha-ge hae-sseo-yo] — The manager had the employee explain first. 🗣️
• Here it feels like instruction/arrangement.

5. 그 뉴스가 사람들을 걱정하게 했어요. [geu nyu-seu-ga sa-ram-deu-reul geok-jeong-ha-ge hae-sseo-yo] — That news made people worry. 📰
• It can also show an emotional result.

🧑‍🏫 Who Does What?

1. Causer — who causes/allows/orders it

2. Causee — who does the inner action

3. Inner action — the action before 게 하다

• 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽게 했어요. [seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-e-ge chae-geul il-ge hae-sseo-yo] — The teacher made/had the student read a book.
• Causer: 선생님이 — the teacher
• Causee: 학생에게 — the student
• Inner action: 책을 읽게 — to read a book

• 에게 / 한테 — often used when the causee is instructed to do an action.
• 학생에게 읽게 했어요. [hak-saeng-e-ge il-ge hae-sseo-yo] — made/had the student read.

• 을/를 — common when the causee is directly affected.
• 아이를 자게 했어요. [a-i-reul ja-ge hae-sseo-yo] — made/let the child sleep.

🔄 -게 하다 vs Suffix Causatives

• 엄마가 아기에게 밥을 먹였어요. [eom-ma-ga a-gi-e-ge ba-beul meo-gyeo-sseo-yo] — Mom fed the baby. 🍚

• 엄마가 아기가 밥을 먹게 했어요. [eom-ma-ga a-gi-ga ba-beul meok-ge hae-sseo-yo] — Mom made/let the baby eat rice/food. 🍚

• 먹이다 = built-in causative verb, often “feed.”

• 먹게 하다 = make/let/have someone eat, more flexible and more explicit.

• 재우다 [jae-u-da] — to put someone to sleep.

• 자게 하다 [ja-ge ha-da] — to make/let someone sleep.

• 읽히다 [il-ki-da] — to make someone read / to be read.

• 읽게 하다 [il-ge ha-da] — to make/let/have someone read.

🪞 Allowing vs Ordering

Permission / letting

• 부모님이 아이를 친구 집에 가게 했어요. [bu-mo-ni-mi a-i-reul chin-gu ji-be ga-ge hae-sseo-yo] — The parents let the child go to a friend's house.

Ordering / making

• 선생님이 학생에게 숙제를 다시 하게 했어요. [seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-e-ge suk-je-reul da-shi ha-ge hae-sseo-yo] — The teacher made the student do the homework again.

Causing an emotion/state

• 그 영화가 저를 울게 했어요. [geu yeong-hwa-ga jeo-reul ul-ge hae-sseo-yo] — That movie made me cry.

📚 Cross-check note

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

• ❌ Conjugating the first verb like 먹어요 하다 → ✅ Use the stem + 게 하다: 먹게 하다.

• ❌ Forgetting to conjugate 하다 → ✅ 먹게 해요, 먹게 했어요, 먹게 할 거예요.

• ❌ Assuming it always means “force” → ✅ It can mean make, let, have, cause, or arrange.

• ❌ Confusing -게 하다 with -게 되다 → ✅ -게 하다 = someone causes it; -게 되다 = it ends up happening.

• ❌ Forgetting the causee → ✅ Include who does the inner action when needed: 아이를, 학생에게, 친구에게.

📦

🎯 Practice Hub — Allowing/Ordering to do: -게 하다

 

Welcome to the -게 하다 workout. 🛠️ You’ll practice forming the pattern, choosing natural causee markers, reading “let” vs “make” from context, and comparing -게 하다 with built-in causatives.

 

🔊 Audio reminder: Use

Korean Helper Widgets to hear 가게 했어요, 먹게 했어요, 쉬게 했어요, 기다리게 했어요, and 울게 했어요.

 

📝 Instructions: Fill in each blank, read the Korean aloud, then check the Answer toggle. Notice who causes the action and who does the inner action.

 

Exercise 1 — Build the Form 🧱

A. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[ga-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to go → make/let someone go 🚶

Answer

가게 하다 [ga-ge ha-da].

B. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[o-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to come → make/let someone come 👋

Answer

오게 하다 [o-ge ha-da].

C. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[meok-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to eat → make/let someone eat 🍚

Answer

먹게 하다 [meok-ge ha-da].

D. 마시다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to drink → make/let someone drink 🥤

Answer

마시게 하다 [ma-si-ge ha-da].

E. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to read → make/let someone read 📖

Answer

읽게 하다 [il-ge ha-da].

F. 쓰다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[sseu-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to write → make/let someone write ✍️

Answer

쓰게 하다 [sseu-ge ha-da].

G. 기다리다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[gi-da-ri-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to wait → make/let someone wait ⏳

Answer

기다리게 하다 [gi-da-ri-ge ha-da].

H. 쉬다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[swi-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to rest → let someone rest 🛋️

Answer

쉬게 하다 [swi-ge ha-da].

I. 공부하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[gong-bu-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to study → make/have someone study 📚

Answer

공부하게 하다 [gong-bu-ha-ge ha-da].

J. 조용하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[jo-yong-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to be quiet → make quiet 🤫

Answer

조용하게 하다 [jo-yong-ha-ge ha-da].

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 가다 → to go

• 오다 → to come

• 먹다 → to eat

• 마시다 → to drink

• 읽다 → to read

• 쓰다 → to write

• 기다리다 → to wait

• 쉬다 → to rest

• 공부하다 → to study

• 조용하다 → to be quiet

Tip 💡 Drop 다, add 게 하다.

 

Exercise 2 — Choose the Inner Action 🧲

A. 부모님이 아이를 일찍 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[bu-mo-ni-mi a-i-reul il-jjik ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

The parents made/had the child sleep early. 😴

Answer

자게 — 자다 → 자게 하다.

B. 선생님이 학생에게 책을 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-e-ge chae-geul ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

The teacher made/had the student read a book. 📖

Answer

읽게 — 읽다 → 읽게 하다.

C. 엄마가 아이를 밖에서 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[eom-ma-ga a-i-reul ba-kke-seo ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

Mom let the child play outside. 🛝

Answer

놀게 — 놀다 → 놀게 하다.

D. 매니저가 직원에게 먼저 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[mae-ni-jeo-ga ji-gwo-ne-ge meon-jeo ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

The manager had the employee explain first. 🗣️

Answer

설명하게 — 설명하다 → 설명하게 하다.

E. 그 뉴스가 사람들을 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[geu nyu-seu-ga sa-ram-deu-reul ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

That news made people worry. 📰

Answer

걱정하게 — 걱정하다 → 걱정하게 하다.

F. 의사가 환자에게 물을 많이 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[ui-sa-ga hwan-ja-e-ge mu-reul ma-ni ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

The doctor had the patient drink a lot of water. 💧

Answer

마시게 — 마시다 → 마시게 하다.

G. 친구가 저를 오래 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[chin-gu-ga jeo-reul o-rae ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

My friend made me wait a long time. ⏳

Answer

기다리게 — 기다리다 → 기다리게 하다.

H. 회사에서 직원들을 집에 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[hoe-sa-e-seo jik-won-deu-reul ji-be ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

The company let the employees go home. 🏠

Answer

가게 — 가다 → 가게 하다.

I. 그 이야기가 저를 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[geu i-ya-gi-ga jeo-reul ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

That story made me smile. 😊

Answer

웃게 — 웃다 → 웃게 하다.

J. 음악이 분위기를 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[eu-ma-gi bun-wi-gi-reul ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

The music made the mood calm. 🎵

Answer

차분하게 — 차분하다 → 차분하게 하다.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 일찍 → early

• 밖에서 → outside

• 먼저 → first

• 설명하다 → to explain

• 걱정하다 → to worry

• 환자 → patient

• 오래 → for a long time

• 직원 → employee

• 분위기 → mood/atmosphere

• 차분하다 → to be calm

Tip 💡 The word before 하게/게 tells you the inner action or state.

 

Exercise 3 — Make, Let, or Have? 🧭

A. 부모님이 아이를 친구 집에 가게 했어요.

[bu-mo-ni-mi a-i-reul chin-gu ji-be ga-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or had? 🏠

Answer

Usually let: The parents let the child go to a friend's house.

B. 선생님이 학생에게 숙제를 다시 하게 했어요.

[seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-e-ge suk-je-reul da-shi ha-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or had? 📚

Answer

Usually made/had: The teacher made/had the student do the homework again.

C. 엄마가 아이를 더 놀게 했어요.

[eom-ma-ga a-i-reul deo nol-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or had? 🛝

Answer

Usually let: Mom let the child play more.

D. 팀장이 직원에게 보고서를 쓰게 했어요.

[tim-jang-i ji-gwo-ne-ge bo-go-seo-reul sseu-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or had? 🧾

Answer

Usually had/made: The team lead had the employee write the report.

E. 그 노래가 저를 춤추게 했어요.

[geu no-rae-ga jeo-reul chum-chu-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or caused? 💃

Answer

Usually made/caused: That song made me dance.

F. 의사가 환자에게 쉬게 했어요.

[ui-sa-ga hwan-ja-e-ge swi-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or had? 🛋️

Answer

Usually had/made: The doctor had the patient rest.

G. 아빠가 아이를 게임하게 했어요.

[a-ppa-ga a-i-reul ge-im-ha-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or had? 🎮

Answer

Usually let: Dad let the child play games.

H. 그 질문이 저를 생각하게 했어요.

[geu jil-mu-ni jeo-reul saeng-ga-ka-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or caused? 🤔

Answer

Usually made/caused: That question made me think.

I. 경찰이 사람들에게 기다리게 했어요.

[gyeong-cha-ri sa-ram-deu-re-ge gi-da-ri-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or had? 🚓

Answer

Usually made/had: The police made/had people wait.

J. 부모님이 저를 혼자 여행하게 했어요.

[bu-mo-ni-mi jeo-reul hon-ja yeo-haeng-ha-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Best feeling: made, let, or had? ✈️

Answer

Usually let: My parents let me travel alone.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 친구 집 → friend's house

• 숙제 → homework

• 더 → more

• 팀장 → team lead

• 보고서 → report

• 춤추다 → to dance

• 게임하다 → to play games

• 질문 → question

• 혼자 → alone

• 여행하다 → to travel

Tip 💡 Permission contexts often translate as “let.” School/work/order contexts often translate as “make” or “have.”

 

Exercise 4 — Compare with Built-in Causatives 🔄

A. 엄마가 아기에게 밥을 먹였어요.

[eom-ma-ga a-gi-e-ge ba-beul meo-gyeo-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 🍚

Answer

Mom fed the baby rice/food. This uses built-in causative 먹이다.

B. 엄마가 아기가 밥을 먹게 했어요.

[eom-ma-ga a-gi-ga ba-beul meok-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 🍚

Answer

Mom made/let the baby eat rice/food. This uses flexible -게 하다.

C. 아빠가 아이를 재웠어요.

[a-ppa-ga a-i-reul jae-wo-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 😴

Answer

Dad put the child to sleep. This uses built-in causative 재우다.

D. 아빠가 아이를 자게 했어요.

[a-ppa-ga a-i-reul ja-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 😴

Answer

Dad made/let/had the child sleep. This uses -게 하다.

E. 친구가 저를 웃겼어요.

[chin-gu-ga jeo-reul ut-gyeo-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 😂

Answer

My friend made me laugh. This uses built-in causative 웃기다.

F. 친구가 저를 웃게 했어요.

[chin-gu-ga jeo-reul ut-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 😂

Answer

My friend made me laugh. This uses -게 하다.

G. 제가 소리를 낮췄어요.

[je-ga so-ri-reul nat-chwo-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 🔉

Answer

I lowered the sound. This uses built-in causative-like verb 낮추다.

H. 제가 소리가 낮게 했어요.

[je-ga so-ri-ga nat-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 🔉

Answer

I made the sound low. Understandable, but 소리를 낮췄어요 is more natural for “I lowered the sound.”

I. 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽혔어요.

[seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-e-ge chae-geul il-kyeo-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 📖

Answer

The teacher made the student read a book. Built-in causative/passive-looking form: 읽히다.

J. 선생님이 학생에게 책을 읽게 했어요.

[seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-e-ge chae-geul il-ge hae-sseo-yo]

Meaning? 📖

Answer

The teacher made/had the student read a book. Flexible -게 하다.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 먹이다 → to feed

• 재우다 → to put to sleep

• 웃기다 → to make laugh / be funny

• 낮추다 → to lower

• 읽히다 → to make read / be read

• 소리 → sound

Tip 💡 Built-in causatives are vocabulary. -게 하다 is a productive sentence pattern.

 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 먹어요 하다 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿ 하다

[meo-geo-yo ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ ha-da]

to make/let someone eat 🍚

Answer

먹게 하다 — use stem + 게 하다.

B. ❌ 읽어요 했어요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿ 했어요

[il-geo-yo hae-sseo-yo → ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

made/had someone read 📖

Answer

읽게 했어요.

C. 선생님이 학생에게 말하게 ＿＿＿＿.

[seon-saeng-ni-mi hak-saeng-e-ge ma-ra-ge ＿＿＿＿]

The teacher made/had the student speak. 🗣️

Answer

했어요 — 말하게 했어요.

D. 부모님이 저를 한국에 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[bu-mo-ni-mi jeo-reul han-gu-ge ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

My parents let me go to Korea. 🇰🇷

Answer

가게 — 한국에 가게 했어요.

E. 그 말이 저를 기분 좋게 ＿＿＿＿.

[geu ma-ri jeo-reul gi-bun jo-ke ＿＿＿＿]

Those words made me feel good. 😊

Answer

했어요 — 기분 좋게 했어요.

F. 팀장이 직원에게 보고서를 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[tim-jang-i ji-gwo-ne-ge bo-go-seo-reul ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

The team lead had the employee write the report. 🧾

Answer

쓰게 — 보고서를 쓰게 했어요.

G. 의사가 환자에게 쉬게 ＿＿＿＿.

[ui-sa-ga hwan-ja-e-ge swi-ge ＿＿＿＿]

The doctor had the patient rest. 🛋️

Answer

했어요 — 쉬게 했어요.

H. 친구가 저를 오래 ＿＿＿＿ 했어요.

[chin-gu-ga jeo-reul o-rae ＿＿＿＿ hae-sseo-yo]

My friend made me wait a long time. ⏳

Answer

기다리게.

I. 이 경험이 저를 성장하게 ＿＿＿＿.

[i gyeong-heo-mi jeo-reul seong-jang-ha-ge ＿＿＿＿]

This experience made me grow. 🌱

Answer

했어요 — 성장하게 했어요.

J. 다시 설명하게 ＿＿＿＿ 주세요.

[da-shi seol-myeong-ha-ge ＿＿＿＿ ju-se-yo]

Please let/have someone explain again. 🗣️

Answer

해 — 다시 설명하게 해 주세요.

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 말하다 → to speak

• 한국 → Korea

• 기분 좋다 → to feel good

• 팀장 → team lead

• 보고서 → report

• 환자 → patient

• 경험 → experience

• 성장하다 → to grow

• 다시 → again

• 설명하다 → to explain

Tip 💡 -게 해 주세요 is a useful request pattern: “Please let/have/make someone do…”

 

🎉 You finished the -게 하다 workout. You can now say “make someone do,” “let someone do,” “have someone do,” and “cause someone/something to become” with one flexible Korean pattern. Causative control unlocked. 🛠️✨