本文探討上古漢語的意動式的基本語義、構成條件以及發展過程。本文的論述有以下幾個要點：（1）一般所謂的「意動式」並非只是表示內心的「認為」而已，經常還會有外在的言行來配合，不然就是伴有一個心理上的認知轉換或體驗。（2）意動式應是由使動式延伸發展而來的，一方面二者有同樣的形式和共通的核心意義，另一方面意動式由使動式展而來也是有迹可循的。（3）意動式是使動式的一個變體，因此後來也就隨著使動式的式微而趨向沒落。

This article examines the basic semantics, structural conditions, and development of putatives in Old Chinese. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) putatives in Old Chinese are not merely to express the meaning of "taking for," but often come with external behaviors. (2) Putatives could be derived from the causatives. On the one hand, putatives and causatives have the same form and share the common core meaning. On the other hand, the derivation from being causative to being putative is also traceable. (3) Putatives are variants of causatives; therefore the use of the former declined following the decadence of the use of the latter.