Make

The verb make can be used in a number of ways.

Make + object

We use make + object to talk about things that we produce or create:

• She made some coffee.
• Did you really make this 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

• Do or make?

Make + object (o) + adjective complement (ac)

• Music makes [O] me [AC] happy.

Make + object (o) + noun complement (nc)

• They made [O] her [NC] team captain for 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 to make it a priority.

• The chef made [IO] him [DO] a special cake.

• Can I make you a cup of tea or coffee?

Make + indirect object (io) + direct object (do)

Make + object (o) + prepositional phrase (pp) with for

• Can you make a [O] sandwich [pp with for] for Lisa as well? (or Can you make Lisa a sandwich as well?)
• I’ve made an appointment for you at the dentist’s.

We don’t use the preposition to in this pattern with make:

• I made pasta for our guests.

• Not: I made pasta to our guests.

• He made [O] life [AC] difficult [PP with for] for me.

• What would make [O] it [NC] a better book [PP with for] for students?

Make + object + adjective (or noun) complement + prepositional phrase with for

See also

• Made from, made of, made out of, made with

Make meaning ‘force to do’

We can use make meaning ‘force someone (to do something)’. In the active voice, we use it with an infinitive without to:

• The boss made me work an extra day.
• Not: The boss made me to work …

However, in the passive voice, we must use an infinitive with to:

• The people were made to wait outside while the committee reached its decision.