DO : MAKE


Topic 26

DO : MAKE

The fundamental meanings of these two verbs are shown in these pairs:

* “What are you doing?” “I’m sewing.”
* “What are you making?” “I’m making a frock.”

* “What is she doing?” “She’s cooking.”
* “What is she making?” “She’s making a cake.”

* He has done his homework.
* He has made several mistakes in his arithmetic.

Make is used in several patterns in addition to that illustrated in the examples above.

(1) it is used with a noun or pronoun and an adjective.
* The news made her happy.
* Why don’t you make yourself useful?

(2) Make is used with a noun or pronoun and an infinitive without to
* Can you make this fountain-pen work properly?
* It was cold, so I made her wear a coat.
* Why don’t you make the child behave?