Want somebody to do something - how do you call this structure? Is this causative?
I was reading an article about English causative. The article said that the only "real" causative verbs in English are let, have, make. These "real" causative verbs are followed by a bare infinitive (He let me drive his car.)

The article mentioned that there are also non-causative verbs which, however, have a causative meaning - allow, force, get, cause. Since they are not "real" causative verbs they are followed by a to infinitive (He allowed me to drive his car.).

This made think - does the structure "want sb to do sth" fall under the same category as allow, force, get, cause since it follows the same structure (He wants me to drive his car.)"?

Question

Want somebody to do something - how do you call this structure? Is this causative?
I was reading an article about English causative. The article said that the only "real" causative verbs in English are let, have, make. These "real" causative verbs are followed by a bare infinitive (He let me drive his car.)

The article mentioned that there are also non-causative verbs which, however, have a causative meaning - allow, force, get, cause. Since they are not "real" causative verbs they are followed by a to infinitive (He allowed me to drive his car.).

This made think - does the structure "want sb to do sth" fall under the same category as allow, force, get, cause since it follows the same structure (He wants me to drive his car.)"?

Answer

My uninformed guess would be 'no'.  I wouldn't class 'want someone to do something' as a causative.

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