laten + Infinitive

Let/Have Someone Do

Level 3

The Dutch verb laten is a versatile 'causative' verb. It is used where English would use 'let', 'have', or 'make'. In this pattern it combines with a second verb in its infinitive form without 'te'.

How It Works

The construction laten + infinitive serves four main purposes:

1. Causative (Having something done): When you arrange for someone else to do a task. In this sense, the infinitive has a passive meaning.
Example: Ik laat mijn haar knippen. (I am having my hair cut.)

2. Permissive (Allowing): When you give permission.
Example: Zij laat de hond op de bank slapen. (She lets the dog sleep on the couch.)

3. Compulsion (Making someone do): When you command or force an action.
Example: De leraar liet de leerlingen nablijven. (The teacher made the students stay late.)

4. Suggestions: Using the first-person plural to propose an action.
Example: Laten we gaan! (Let's go!)

Laten vs. Doen:
While laten is used for permission or arrangements, use doen for involuntary physical or emotional reactions (e.g., De zon doet de sneeuw smelten - The sun makes the snow melt).

Reflexive Use:
The construction zich laten + infinitive is used to express that something 'can be' done (e.g., Dat laat zich raden - That can be guessed).

Grammar Rules:

  • No 'te': It is a bare infinitive construction; never use 'te' before the second verb.
  • Word Order: In a main clause, laten is conjugated in the second position and the other verb goes to the end.
  • The IPP Effect: In the perfect tense, Dutch uses the double infinitive (IPP). The past participle gelaten is only used when laten is the main verb (meaning 'to leave' or 'to refrain from'). When followed by another infinitive, gelaten becomes laten.
    Example: Ik heb de auto laten repareren.
  • Subordinate Clauses: In a subordinate clause, the auxiliary verb usually moves to the front of the infinitive cluster.

Examples (4)

  1. Ik laat mijn fiets maken bij de fietsenmaker.

    I am having my bike repaired at the bike shop.

    Word by Word: I let my bike make at the bike-maker.

    This is the causative use: you aren't fixing the bike yourself; you are having someone else do it.

  2. De leraar laat de leerlingen eerder naar huis gaan.

    The teacher lets the students go home earlier.

    Word by Word: The teacher lets the students earlier to house go.

    This is the permissive use: the teacher is giving permission.

  3. Laten we vanavond pizza bestellen.

    Let's order pizza tonight.

    Word by Word: Let we tonight pizza order.

    This is a common way to make a suggestion, similar to 'Let's' in English.

  4. Hij heeft zijn moeder een uur laten wachten.

    He made his mother wait for an hour.

    Word by Word: He has his mother an hour let wait.

    Note the use of the double infinitive 'laten wachten' instead of a past participle.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'te' before the second infinitive.

    Ik laat hem te gaan.
    Ik laat hem gaan.

    Just like modal verbs, 'laten' never takes 'te' before the following infinitive.

  • Using 'maken' to mean 'to make someone do something'.

    Hij maakte mij lachen.
    Hij liet mij lachen.

    In Dutch, 'maken' is for physical creation. To cause an action or emotion, use 'laten' (or sometimes 'doen').

  • Using the past participle 'gelaten' in the perfect tense when followed by another verb.

    Ik heb het gelaten doen.
    Ik heb het laten doen.

    When 'laten' is used with another verb in the perfect tense, it must remain in the infinitive form (IPP effect).

How It Connects

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

laten + InfinitiveLevel 3Let/Have Someone Do

Learn This First

To use 'laten + infinitive', you need to understand how to conjugate the verb 'laten' and how to place a second verb in its infinitive form at the end of the sentence, a structure identical to how modal verbs function in Dutch. Additionally, knowing object pronouns is essential for identifying who is performing the action in the causative sense.

Words in This Pattern

laten