Causative -inti, -dinti
Causative Verbs
A causative verb means to make someone do something. Juoktis is to laugh, and juokinti is to make someone laugh: Klounas juokina vaikus. (The clown makes the children laugh.)
How It Works
Common pairs
- juoktis (laugh) → juokinti (make laugh): juokinti, juokina, juokino
- valgyti (eat) → valgydinti (feed someone): valgydinti, valgydina, valgydino
- miegoti (sleep) → migdyti (put to sleep): migdyti, migdo, migdė
- sėdėti (sit) → sodinti (seat someone; plant): sodinti, sodina, sodino
- gulėti (lie) → guldyti (put to bed, lay down): guldyti, guldo, guldė
- gerti (drink) → girdyti (give someone or an animal something to drink)
The object
The basic verb is often intransitive or reflexive, and the causative turns it into a verb with an accusative object: Vaikas miega. (The child is sleeping.) → Mama migdo vaiką. (Mom is putting the child to sleep.) See Accusative Direct Object.
Having something done
With some verbs, -dinti means to have something done by someone else: statyti (build) → statydinti (have built), siūti (sew) → siūdinti (have sewn). Kaimynai statydina naują namą. means the neighbours are having a new house built.
With prefixes
Like other verbs, causatives can take prefixes that mark a result or change their meaning: Jis mane prajuokino. (He made me laugh.) Mama užmigdė vaiką. (Mom got the child to sleep.)
Not with padaryti
English made me laugh is not built with padaryti in Lithuanian. Use the causative verb, or priversti + infinitive when someone is forced: Jis privertė mane laukti. (He made me wait.)
Examples (6)
- Klounas juokino vaikus visą popietę.
The clown made the children laugh all afternoon.
Word by Word: Clown made-laugh children all afternoon.
- Mama migdo kūdikį.
Mom is putting the baby to sleep.
Word by Word: Mom puts-to-sleep baby.
- Tėtis valgydina mažylį.
Dad is feeding the little one.
Word by Word: Dad makes-eat little-one.
- Šeimininkė sodino svečius prie stalo.
The hostess seated the guests at the table.
Word by Word: Hostess made-sit guests at table.
- Kaimynai statydina naują namą.
The neighbours are having a new house built.
Word by Word: Neighbours have-built new house.
- Jis mane prajuokino.
He made me laugh.
Word by Word: He me made-laugh.
Common Mistakes
Using the basic verb with an object when you mean to make someone do it.
Mama miega vaiką.Mama migdo vaiką.Miegoti cannot take vaiką as the person being put to sleep. To put someone to sleep, use the causative migdyti.
Translating "made me laugh" word for word with padaryti.
Jis padarė mane juoktis.Jis mane prajuokino.Lithuanian does not build this meaning with padaryti. Use the causative verb, here prajuokinti.
Using sėdėti when you seat someone else.
Ji sėdėjo svečius prie stalo.Ji sodino svečius prie stalo.Sėdėti means to be sitting yourself. To make others sit, use sodinti.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Causative verbs present someone as causing another participant's action or state.
Related Patterns
- Reflexive -siReflexive Verbs in -si
Many causatives come from reflexive verbs: juoktis → juokinti.
Level 2 - Things That Happen by Themselves
The opposite direction: things that happen by themselves, with no one causing them.
Level 4 - The Three Principal Parts
Causatives have their own principal parts, such as migdyti – migdo – migdė.
Level 2 - Vowel Changes in the Principal Parts
The root vowel changes in pairs like sėdėti → sodinti and miegoti → migdyti.
Level 3 - Becoming With -ėtiVerbs of Becoming in -ėti
Another verb-building suffix: -ėti can mark becoming, while -inti can mark causing a change.
Level 6
Practice Causative -inti, -dinti in Bubblegum
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