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The protocol has me divide the area into several plots.
The next trial has the protagonist enter the cave.

The first sentence is mine, and the second was written by a non-native speaker while correcting one of my posts on Lang-8.

Is it correct and natural to use an inanimate object as the subject for causative HAVE?

1 Answer 1

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We often say things like:

The recipe has you knead the bread for 20 minutes.

This experiment has one working with strong acids. Wear protective gear.

These instructions have me attaching flange A to flange B. I don't get it.

"has one" is formal and "has you" is informal and "has me" may connote that the speaker is a little frustrated or perhaps confused or experiencing some sort of difficulty. The speaker is taking the generic thing personally.

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