Many people think that the word "make" is quite simple, and its meaning is "to do". But do you know that the use of this word is much more complicated than it appears on the surface. Just a small "s" can make a huge difference in the meaning of the entire sentence.
The core difference between parts of speech
"Make" serves as the verb prototype and can be used when the subject is "I", "you", "we", "they" or a plural noun. For example, in the sentence "We make a plan every Monday", the subject "we" is plural, so the base form of the verb "make" is used. This is one of the most basic rules in English grammar and plays a decisive role in the correctness of sentence structure.
If the subject belongs to the third person singular, that is, "he", "she", "it" or a singular name of a person or thing, "makes" must be used. For example, "She makes dinner for her family." The "she" here is the singular third-person subject, and the verb must be followed by an "s". This rule is a common test point for people who are just beginning to learn English.
Subtle differences in pronunciation
The pronunciation of "make it" ends with the voiceless consonant /k/, and the vowel is pronounced as /eɪ/. The overall pronunciation is clear and distinguishable. In American pronunciation, the /eɪ/ sound may become fuller and more pronounced. Ensure accurate pronunciation and help avoid misunderstandings during oral communication.
The pronunciation of "makes" is based on "make", with the sound /z/ added. This /z/ sound is a voiced consonant, and when pronounced, the vocal cords must vibrate. There is not much difference between the British pronunciation and the American pronunciation of this word. The key is that the consonant at the end of the word has changed from unvoiced to voiced. This is the key indicator of the third person singular form in spoken language.
Specific scenarios of verb usage
When "make" is used as a verb, it will be followed by an object directly to indicate making or causing something to come into being. For example, "He will make a model plane." This action has a clear target object, and it focuses on the creative process from non-existence to existence, or triggers a certain result.
It can be used as a causative verb, forming a structure like "make + object + verb base form", which means "to make/let… do…". For example, "The teacher makes him read the text aloud." In this structure, the verb after the object must be in its original form, and "to" cannot be added. This is a grammatical point that requires special attention.
Unique features of noun meaning
In addition to the usual verb usage, "make" can also be used as a noun. At this time, the meaning it expresses usually refers to "brand" or "model", especially when it is used for industrial products. For example, the sentence "What make is your car?" is in the situation of asking the car brand.
In a more abstract context, "make" as a noun can refer to a person's "character" or "physique." For example, "a man of strong make" describes a person with a strong character or a strong physique. This usage is relatively written, and is not as frequent as its verb usage in daily spoken language.
Changes in tense and form
The past tense and past participle of "make" are both "made". This is an irregular change and requires special attention to remember. For example, in the sentence "They made a decision yesterday", what is shown is the action that has happened in the past.
Its present participle is "making," which is used in the continuous tense, or as a gerund. For example, "She is making a call." However, the "making" in "Making friends is important." functions as a noun. These formal changes are the basis for accurately expressing different time situations.
Common misunderstandings in learning
A typical mistake is to add "to" to the causative verb structure, for example, incorrectly saying "make him to go" when the correct form should be "make him go", and this structure must omit "to" in the active voice.
However, when the structure changes to passive voice, the previously omitted "to" must be added back. For example, when the active sentence "He made me laugh" is transformed into a passive sentence, it should be "I was made to laugh." Many learners will ignore this change, which will lead to grammatical errors.
When you are in the process of learning English, have you ever felt confused because of the seemingly simple fact but subtle difference between "make" and "makes"? Welcome to share your experience in the comment area. If you find this article helpful, please also like it to support it!
