nechat + Infinitive

Permissive or Causative Nechat

Level 6

The verb nechat combined with an active infinitive is the standard Czech way to express either allowing an action (permissive) or commissioning someone else to do it for you (causative).

How It Works

The construction nechat + infinitiv serves two primary functions in Czech: permissive and causative. Disclaimer: When used without an infinitive, nechat simply means 'to leave [an object/state]' (e.g., Nech to tady. - Leave it here).

1. Permissive (To let/allow):
Used to express allowing someone to do something or refraining from interference. This use is most frequently encountered in the imperative mood. The syntax is nechat + accusative + active infinitive.
Examples: Nech ho odejít. (Let him leave.) / Nech mě být. (Let me be.)

Reflexive Permissive (nechat se):
A highly frequent core pattern meaning 'to let oneself be [verb]ed' or 'get [verb]ed'.
Example: Nenech se odradit. (Don't let yourself be discouraged.)

2. Causative / Delegative (To have something done):
Used to express commissioning a service or getting someone else to do a task. Unlike English 'make', it lacks coercive force (for forcing, use donutit). When the action is for your own personal benefit, it requires the benefactive si. Note that the construction dát (si) + infinitive is often used interchangeably as a highly frequent synonym (e.g., Dám si opravit auto = Nechám si opravit auto).
Syntax: nechat + si + active infinitive + [object of the infinitive].
Example: Nechám si opravit auto. (I will have my car fixed.)

Crucial Rules:

  • Active Infinitive Only: Never use a passive participle. The syntax remains entirely active. The agent (e.g., the mechanic) is usually unexpressed, but can be specified using od + genitive or the instrumental case.
  • Clitic Placement: The reflexive pronoun si is a second-position clitic. It must sit in the Wackernagel position, regardless of where the infinitive is placed.
  • Beneficiary Rule: The clitic si is used when the subject is the direct beneficiary of the action. If the action is commissioned for someone else, si is replaced by the appropriate dative pronoun (e.g., mu, jí, jim). For example: Nechám mu opravit auto. (I will have his car fixed / I will have the car fixed for him).

Verb Aspect (nechat vs. nechávat):
The verb nechat is perfective. In the present tense, it carries a future meaning (e.g., nechám = I will have/let). For present continuous or habitual actions, you must use its imperfective counterpart, nechávat.
Compare:

  • Nechal jsem si opravit auto. (Past: I had my car fixed.)
  • Nechám si opravit auto. (Future: I will have my car fixed.)
  • Nechávám si opravit auto. (Present/Habitual: I am having my car fixed / I get my car fixed.)

Note on 'Let him...': English speakers often calque third-person commands ('Let him come') as Nech ho přijít. In Czech, nechat implies physically unblocking someone or granting direct permission. A relayed command or wish requires the conjunction ať: Ať přijde.

Examples (5)

  1. Nechal jsem si ostříhat vlasy.

    I had my hair cut. / I got a haircut.

    Word by Word: Let am myself to-cut hair.

    The standard causative use with the benefactive 'si', indicating a service commissioned for personal benefit.

  2. Nech mě to dodělat, jsem skoro hotový.

    Let me finish it, I'm almost done.

    Word by Word: Let me it to-finish, am almost done.

    The permissive use. The imperative forms of 'nechat' are extremely common in everyday speech.

  3. Firma nechala vypracovat znalecký posudek.

    The company had an expert report prepared.

    Word by Word: Company let to-work-out expert report.

    Causative use without 'si'. The clitic is omitted here because the subject (the company) is not the direct personal beneficiary of the action.

  4. Proč sis nenechal zkontrolovat brzdy?

    Why didn't you have your brakes checked?

    Word by Word: Why yourself-did not-let to-check brakes?

    Shows the clitic cluster 'sis' (si + jsi) in the second position, properly separated from the infinitive.

  5. Nenech se odradit prvním neúspěchem.

    Don't let yourself be discouraged by the first failure.

    Word by Word: Not-let yourself to-discourage by-first failure.

    Permissive use with the accusative reflexive 'se', meaning 'do not allow (others/circumstances) to discourage you'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a passive participle instead of an active infinitive.

    Different MeaningMěl jsem ostříhané vlasy.
    Nechal jsem si ostříhat vlasy.

    'Měl jsem ostříhané vlasy' is correct, but it describes a state: 'I had cut hair'. To say someone cut your hair, use the causative 'nechat si' with an active infinitive: 'Nechal jsem si ostříhat vlasy'.

  • Misplacing the clitic 'si' next to the infinitive.

    Zítra nechám opravit si auto.
    Zítra si nechám opravit auto.

    The benefactive 'si' is a strict second-position clitic. It must follow the first constituent of the clause, not attach directly to the infinitive.

  • Adding 'sám' (myself) to a causative sentence.

    Nechal jsem si opravit auto sám.
    Opravil jsem si auto sám.

    'Nechat si' explicitly means you commissioned someone else to do the task. Adding 'sám' creates a logical contradiction. If you did it yourself, just use the normal active verb without 'nechat'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

nechat + InfinitiveLevel 6Permissive or Causative Nechat

Learn This First

To learn the causative or permissive use of 'nechat', a learner must first be able to conjugate the verb 'nechat' itself (following the -ám pattern). They also need to understand the general syntax of combining a governing verb with an infinitive and how objects are positioned and declined in such constructions.

Words in This Pattern

nechat