bëj + të + Verb

Causative with 'Bëj'

Level 3

The causative construction with bëj (to make/do) is used to show that a subject causes or forces another person (the causee) to perform an action. It is the Albanian equivalent of 'to make someone do something'.

How It Works

In Standard Albanian, there are two main ways to structure a causative sentence with bëj:

1. Direct Causative (Most Common):
Structure: [Subject] + [Clitic] + [bëj] + [Causee in Accusative] + [të + Subjunctive Verb].
Example: Mësuesi e bëri djalin të studionte. (The teacher made the boy study.)
Note: You normally use clitic doubling for the causee.

2. Indirect/Resultative Causative:
Structure: [Subject] + [bëj] + që + [Causee in Nominative] + [të + Subjunctive Verb].
Example: Kjo bën që ai të vijë. (This makes [it so that] he comes.)
This version focuses more on the result or the situation rather than the direct force applied to a person.

Key Points:

  • The verb bëj is irregular in the aorist (past) tense: bëra, bëre, bëri...
  • The second verb is normally in the subjunctive mood (marked by të).
  • Unlike English, you cannot omit the particle të.

Examples (5)

  1. E bëra djalin të qante.

    I made the boy cry.

    Word by Word: Him I-made the-boy to cry.

    Here, 'djalin' is the causee in the accusative case, and 'të qante' is the imperfect subjunctive.

  2. Mësuesi i bëri nxënësit të studionin më shumë.

    The teacher made the students study more.

    Word by Word: The-teacher them made the-students to study more.

    Note the use of the plural accusative clitic 'i' to double 'nxënësit'.

  3. Kjo zhurmë bën që njerëzit të largohen.

    This noise makes people leave.

    Word by Word: This noise makes that the-people to leave.

    This uses the 'bëj që' construction, focusing on the result of the noise.

  4. Ai e bëri të ditur lajmin.

    He made the news known.

    Word by Word: He it made to known the-news.

    A common fixed expression where 'bëj' is used to indicate making something public or known.

  5. Era e bëri dritaren të mbyllej.

    The wind made the window close.

    Word by Word: The-wind it made the-window to be-closed.

    The second verb 'të mbyllej' is in the non-active subjunctive because the window is being closed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the nominative case for the causee in the direct construction.

    E bëra djali të qante.
    E bëra djalin të qante.

    In the direct construction, the person being made to do something must be in the accusative case (djalin), not the nominative (djali).

  • Thinking the clitic 'e' is always required.

    Different MeaningBëra djalin të qante.
    E bëra djalin të qante.

    Both forms are correct. The clitic 'e' is common in speech, especially when the boy is already known. When 'djalin' follows the verb, the clitic is not required.

  • Omitting the 'të' particle before the second verb.

    E bëra atë shkoj.
    E bëra atë të shkonte.

    English speakers often forget 'të' because 'make' doesn't use 'to' in English (e.g., 'make him go'). In Albanian, the subjunctive particle 'të' is required.

How It Connects

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bëj + të + VerbLevel 3Causative with 'Bëj'

Learn This First

To learn the causative construction with 'bëj', you first need to understand how to conjugate 'bëj' in the present tense. More importantly, you must be familiar with the subjunctive mood, as the action being caused is always expressed using the 'të' particle followed by a conjugated verb. Additionally, knowing how to use accusative clitics is essential for identifying the person or thing being influenced by the subject.

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bëj