'MAKE' phrasal verbs | Live-English.net

There are thousands of phrasal verbs in English. Let’s take a look at some of the most useful phrasal verbs using the verb make.

A Video Summary
A few explanations
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3

A Video Summary about ‘MAKE’ phrasal verbs

A few explanations about ‘MAKE’ phrasal verbs

WHAT IS A PHRASAL VERB?

A phrasal verb is the combination of two or three words from different grammatical categories – a verb and a particle, such as an adverb or a preposition – to form a single phrase. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb. 

Many students translate both words separately rather than see the whole phrase, this can be confusing as the meaning translated this way will often not make sense.

ABOUT THE VERB MAKE
  • Make is an irregular verb. 
  • The past tense of make is made 
  • The third-person singular simple present indicative form of make is makes; he makes cakes, she makes cakes.
  • The present participle of make is making. 
  • The past participle of make is made
MORE THAN ONE MEANING

Often phrasal verbs will have more than one meaning, therefore, it’s important to select the correct phrasal verb for context of the sentence. For example:

To make out:
1. Make out – to pretend
2. Make out – to progress
3. Make out – to understand something
4. Make out – to be able to see or hear something 

USING PHRASAL VERBS OF MAKE

make after

to chase somebody or something

make away with

(informal) to steal something

make do

to accept something not as satisfactory as there is no alternative

make for

1. to produce a result

2. to go or travel in a certain direction

make into

to change something into something else

make it

to arrive or to get a result

make it up

1. to lie about something/ invent a story

2. to make friends after an argument

make it up (to someone)

to give compensation for something

make of

to understand or have an opinion

make off

to leave in a hurry

make off with

to steal something

make out

1. make progress with something

2. (informal) to kiss someone

3. to understand, see or hear something clearly

make over

to change the appearance of a person or place

make up

to put on cosmetics

make up (your mind)

to make a decision

 

Exercises About ‘MAKE’ Phrasal Verbs

Exercise 1: Select the correct phrasal verb in brackets to complete these sentences:

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Exercise 2: Decide which phrasal verb of make fits best in these sentences:

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Exercise 3: Drop down UP/OUT/OFF/INTO:

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