A:在 We need to have everyone sitting down at the same table. (我們得讓大家坐在同一桌) 這句中,have 為使役動詞 (causative verb),其後接原形動詞,這是一般所熟知的使役動詞用法,但其實它亦可接動名詞,所以 sitting 是正確用字,並非 sit 之誤。一般而言,使役動詞有下列兩種類型:
1. have + sb + 原形動詞 / make + sb + 原形動詞 / get + sb + to + 原形動詞,意為「使或叫某人做某事」,如 I’ll have the porter bring your baggage up right away. (我會叫搬運工馬上把你的行李拿上來);I had John find me a house. (我叫約翰幫我找房子)。
2. have/get + sth + P.P. (by sb),意為「安排 (某人) 做某事」,如 I had my hair cut yesterday. (我昨天理了頭髮);The place is looking much better since they had it redecorated. (自從他們請人重新裝潢後,這地方看起來漂亮多了)。
然而,have 還有一種使役動詞句型,那就是「have + sb + V-ing」,如 I had them all laughing at my jokes. (我讓他們聽了我的笑話全多笑了)。但必須注意的是,have, make, get 這三個使役動詞中只有 have 有此句型。
此外,別將「have + sb + V-ing」這個使役動詞句型與 have 另一個也是「have + sb + V-ing」的句型搞混了,後者的 have 意為「允許,容忍」,通常用在否定句中,如 We can’t have you going anywhere by taxi. (我們不能允許你無論去哪裡都搭乘計程車);I won’t have anyone smoking in here. (我不容許任何人在這裡抽菸)。