The French Causative Faire: How to Use "Faire + Infinitive"

One of the most essential grammatical tools for reaching fluency in French is the causative construction using the verb faire + infinitive.

English speakers frequently say "I am having my car repaired" or "The movie made me cry." In French, both concepts—delegating a task and triggering an emotional or physical effect—are expressed using a single, versatile pattern: the French causative faire.

In this complete guide from My-French, we will dissect how to build causative sentences, where to position pronouns, how to avoid agreement errors, and how to use the reflexive form with complete confidence.

1. What Is the Causative Construction in French?

  • Je répare mon vélo. (I fix my bicycle myself).

    • In an ordinary active sentence, the subject performs the action directly:

  • Je fais réparer mon vélo. (I am having my bicycle fixed / I get someone to fix my bike).

    • In a causative sentence, the subject does not personally execute the action. Instead, the subject causes the action to happen by asking, hiring, ordering, or prompting another person (or thing) to do it:

The formula is straightforward: $$\text{Subject} + \text{conjugated form of faire} + \text{infinitive verb} + \text{object/agent}$$

The Two Main Meanings:

1. Arranging / Having something done (delegation):

  • Nous faisons repeindre le salon. (We are having the living room repainted).
  • Elle fait confectionner une robe. (She is having a dress made).

2. Causing / Making someone do something (causation or obligation):

  • Ce film me fait pleurer. (This movie makes me cry).
  • Le professeur fait répéter les élèves. (The teacher makes the students repeat).

    • 2. Indicating the Agent: Using "À" or "Par"

When you specify who actually performs the action (called the agent), French syntax adapts depending on whether the infinitive verb already possesses a direct object (COD).

Case 1: The infinitive has no direct object

  • Je fais travailler mes employés. (I make my employees work).
  • Il fait rire les enfants. (He makes the kids laugh).

    • The agent acts as the direct object of the whole causative structure:

    Case 2: The infinitive already has a direct object

  • J'ai fait goûter le vin à mon ami. (I had my friend taste the wine).
  • Il a fait construire sa maison par une entreprise locale. (He had his house built by a local firm).

    • If the verb already has a direct object, the agent is introduced by a preposition—typically à or par—to avoid syntactic confusion:

Quick distinction: Use à when directing, instructing, or ordering an individual (Je fais lire ce livre à Paul). Use par when emphasizing a contractor, service provider, or passive-like agent (J'ai fait réparer le toit par un couvreur).

3. Placement of Object Pronouns (The Critical Rule)

In standard French compound verb structures (such as aller + infinitive or pouvoir + infinitive), pronouns attach to the infinitive verb (Je vais le voir).

However, the causative faire is an exception: > Rule: Object pronouns (direct and indirect) must ALWAYS precede the conjugated form of faire, never the infinitive.

  • Je fais réviser la leçon. -> Je la fais réviser. (Direct object la before fais).
  • Je fais signer le contrat au client. -> Je le lui fais signer. (Double pronouns le lui before fais).
  • Elle a fait pleurer son frère. -> Elle l'a fait pleurer. (Direct pronoun before auxiliary a fait).

    • Compare these examples:

    With the Imperative:

  • Affirmative imperative: Fais-le entrer ! (Let/make him come in!)
  • Negative imperative: Ne le fais pas tomber ! (Don't drop it / Don't make it fall!)

    • 4. Past Participle Agreement: The Easiest Rule in French

French learners often struggle with past participle agreements with avoir. Fortunately, the causative faire provides absolute consistency:

> The Golden Rule: When the past participle fait is followed immediately by an infinitive, it is completely invariable. It never agrees in gender or number, regardless of where the direct object sits.

Examples:

  • La maison qu'il a fait bâtir. (NOT: faite bâtir).
  • Les chansons que j'ai fait écouter à mes amis. (NOT: faites écouter).
  • Ces erreurs ? Elle les a fait disparaître. (Invariable).

    • 5. The Reflexive Causative: "Se faire + Infinitive"

When an action affects the subject directly, French uses the reflexive causative: se faire + infinitive.

This pattern has two frequent nuances:

1. Getting something done to oneself:

  • Je vais me faire couper les cheveux. (I am going to get my hair cut).
  • Elle s'est fait percer les oreilles. (She got her ears pierced).

2. Incurring an involuntary event (often negative):

  • Fais attention, tu vas te faire écraser ! (Careful, you're going to get run over!)
  • Il s'est fait voler son passeport à la gare. (He got his passport stolen at the train station).

Note: Just like in the non-reflexive construction, fait remains invariable when followed by an infinitive (Elle s'est fait soigner).

Key Takeaways Checklist

  • Formula: `Subject + faire + infinitive` expresses causation or delegated action.
  • Agent: Introduced by `à` or `par` if a direct object is already present.
  • Pronouns: Always place them immediately ahead of `faire` (Tu me fais rire).
  • Agreement: `fait + infinitive` never agrees with preceding direct objects.

Incorporate the French causative faire into your daily speech and writing: it transforms clunky descriptions into natural, native-sounding French.