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Causative
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====English==== English uses various causative mechanisms, with varying degrees of [[productivity (linguistics)|productivity]]. There are a large number of lexical causatives, such as ''kill'', ''open'' and ''feed''.<ref name=Shibatani/>{{rp|2}} Additionally, there are several morphemes that can express causation. For example, ''-(i)fy'' can be thought of as a causative in that it is a [[derivation (linguistics)|derivation]] that turns an adjective or noun into a "verb of becoming": *''simple'' β ''simplify'' = "to make simple", "to cause (something) to become simple" *''object'' β ''objectify'' = "to make into an object", "to cause (something) to become an object" (figuratively, that is) ''en-'' can also be a causative. In English, adjectives (or ''stative verbs'' in other languages) can express the acquisition of a quality or changes of state with causatives, in the same way as with regular verbs. For example, if there is a stative verb ''to be large'', the causative will mean ''to enlarge'', ''to make grow''. The reflexive form of the causative can then be used to mean ''to enlarge oneself'', or even as a middle voice, ''to grow''. As far as lexical causatives are concerned, English has at least 49 causative verbs. Roughly half affect only sentient beings: ''allow'', ''block'', ''cause'', ''enable'', ''force'', ''get'', ''help'', ''hinder'', ''hold'', ''impede'', ''keep'', ''leave'', ''let'', ''make'', ''permit'', ''prevent'', ''protect'', ''restrain'', ''save'', ''set'', ''start'', ''stimulate'', ''stop''. The others can affect either sentient or non-sentient beings: ''aid'', ''bar'', ''bribe'', ''compel'', ''constrain'', ''convince'', ''deter'', ''discourage'', ''dissuade'', ''drive'', ''have'', ''hamper'', ''impel'', ''incite'', ''induce'', ''influence'', ''inspire'', ''lead'', ''move'', ''persuade'', ''prompt'', ''push'', ''restrict'', ''rouse'', ''send'', ''spur''.<ref>Wolff, Phillip, Grace Song, & David Driscoll (2002). "Models of causation and causal verbs." pp. 607β622 of Andronix, M., C. Ball, H. Eslton, & S. Neuval (Eds.), ''Papers from the 37th Metting of the Chicago Linguistics Society, Main Session, Vol. 1''. Chicago: Chicago Linguistics Society.</ref>
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