The article briefly presents the main structural and semantic characteristics of the category of causativity based on the material of the French language, clarifies the semantic and syntactic essence of the causative constructions faire Vinf with the meaning of factivity and laisser Vinf with the meaning of permissivity. The pragmatic properties of statements (speech acts) that include these constructions are determined by the categories of expression of will, motivation and directivity. These statements are characterized by illocutionary ambiguity, their meaning and sense are revealed in specific conditions of use
causation; factitive; permissive; directive speech act; illocutionary ambiguity.