English Help Online's Blog

Today I’d like to go over the difference between to “make” someone do something, to “let” someone do something and to “have” someone do something. In English, to “make” someone do something means to force someone to do an action that they really don’t want to do. For example:

When I was young, my parents made me clean my room.

I don’t want to work this weekend, but my boss is making me.

My teacher made me do extra homework because I was late for class.

To “let” someone do something means to allow someone to do something that they want to do. For example:

I let my son go camping with his friends last weekend.

My boss let me go home early yesterday because I was sick.

My teacher let me hand in my essay a day late.

To “have” someone do something means to arrange for someone to do something. It is used when the lower level person CANNOT say no because they work for the higher level person. It can also be used when the request is so simple that nobody would say no. For example:

I’ll have my secretary type up this report, and then I’ll send it to you.

I’ll have Mr. Smith call you back as soon as he can.

A: We don’t have any wine.

B: It’s ok. I’ll call my husband on his cell phone and have him buy some wine before he comes home.

In each of these cases, the person willingly complies with the request to type up the report, to call the other person back, or to buy some wine so we use “have” instead of “make”. Please note that with all of these cases we do NOT use the preposition “to”. Therefore it is WRONG to say:

When I was young, my parents made me to clean my room.

My boss let me to go home early yesterday because I was sick.

I’ll have my secretary to type up this report, and then I’ll send it to you.

I hope this is clear to everyone.

Today, I would like to write about something which is confusing for many people: “should”, “have to” and “had better”. We use “should” when we want to say something is a good idea, but that there is a choice. For example:

I’m not good at playing the piano. I should practice more often.

If you have the hiccups, you should drink a glass of water.

I can’t save much money. I shouldn’t go out for dinner so much.

We use “have to” when we must do something and we DON’T have a choice. For example:

I have to be at work by 9:00 am every morning.

We have to hand in our reports to the teacher on Friday.

I’m sorry, but I can’t have dinner with you on Sunday. I have to help my friend move.

The expression “had better” is commonly misunderstood. It is used when we want to say that we have a choice about doing something, but that if we don’t do it, we are going to have a problem. For example:

My test is in two days. I’d better start studying for it right away. (This means that if I don’t start studying for it right away, I’m going to fail the test.)

The boss is coming! You’d better get back to work! (This means that if you don’t get back to work, the boss will be very angry.)

My boyfriend was late the last time we had a date. He’d better not be late for our date tonight! (This means that if he’s late, she’ll be very angry.)

Sometimes, “have to” can be used as a strong recommendation. For example:

If you ever go the Paris, you have to go to the Louvre museum!

A: I don’t watch “Lost”.

B: Oh really?! It’s an amazing show! You have to start watching it!

In these examples, the person has a choice about going to the Louvre museum or watching the show “Lost”, but the other person is making the recommendation very strongly.