The verbmakecan be used in a number of ways.
Make+ object
We usemake+ object to talk about things that we produce or create:
Shemadesome coffee.
Did you reallymakethis table?
There are many expressions which use this pattern:
make a claim | make a mess | make a speech |
make a complaint | make a mistake | make a start |
make a concession | make a note | make a statement |
make a date | make a phone call | make a wish |
make a difference | make a point | make an appointment |
make a fuss | make a profit/loss | make an effort |
make a list | make a sound |
See also:
Doormake?
Make+ object (o) + adjective complement (ac)
Musicmakes[O]me[AC]happy.
Make+ object (o) + noun complement (nc)
Theymade[O]her[NC]team captainfor the coming year.
[at the lost luggage department at an airport]
A:When am I going to get my suitcase?
B:I promise you we’re going tomakeit a priority.
Make+ indirect object (io) + direct object (do)
The chefmade[IO]him[DO]a special cake.
Can Imakeyou a cup of tea or coffee?
Make+ object (o) + prepositional phrase (pp) withfor
Can youmakea[O]sandwich[pp with for]for Lisa as well?(orCan you make Lisa a sandwich as well?)
I’vemadean appointment for you at the dentist’s.
We don’t use the prepositiontoin this pattern withmake:
Imadepastaforour guests.
Not:I made pasta to our guests.
Make+ object + adjective (or noun) complement + prepositional phrase withfor
Hemade[O]life[AC] [PP with for]difficult for me.
What wouldmake[O]it[NC]a better book[PP with for]for students?
See also:
Made from,made of,made out of,made with
Makemeaning ‘force to do’
We can usemakemeaning ‘force someone (to do something)’. In the active voice, we use it with an infinitive withoutto:
The bossmademe work an extra day.
Not:The boss made me to work…
However, in the passive voice, we must use an infinitive withto:
The peoplewere madeto wait outside while the committee reached its decision.