faireverb

Faireverb is a term used in linguistics to describe a periphrastic causative construction formed with the French verb faire followed by an infinitive, used to indicate that the subject causes someone or something to perform an action. The term is not a universal label in every grammar, but it appears in some discussions of the French causative construction and related languages. The core idea is to shift agency from the main subject to an implied agent of the action, or to express that an action is arranged or caused rather than performed directly by the subject.

Structure and meaning: The basic pattern is Subject + faire + infinitive. The infinitive denotes the action carried out by a third party; the patient is the object of the infinitive. The agent performing the action may be left unspecified or introduced by a phrase (par X). Tense is conveyed by conjugating faire, while the infinitive remains in its base form. The past causative can be expressed with the auxiliary and the participle in phrases like j’ai fait réparer ma voiture, meaning “I had my car repaired.”

Examples:

- Je fais réparer ma voiture par un mécanicien. I have my car repaired by a mechanic.

- Elle fait lire le livre aux élèves. She has the students read the book.

- Nous faisons construire une extension par une équipe extérieure. We have an extension built by an external team.

Variants and related notions: The same causative idea exists in English as make/let someone do something or have something done. In French, se faire faire expresses a related reflexive or middle causation, such as se faire lire ou se faire écrire.

See also: causative, periphrastic causative, faire.