makes

IPA/meɪk/
KK[mˈeks]IPA/meɪk/

makes — 動詞

  • makespresent simple I / you / we / they
  • makeses3rd person singular
  • makesing-ing form
  • makesedpast simple

1. to create something by combining materials, using your hands, or working with a

1.動詞及物A2
釋義

做；製造

用材料或零件做出物品

to create something by combining materials, using your hands, or working with a machine; to build, form, or prepare a physical object.

例句

Mei made a warm scarf from the wool her grandmother gave her.

Mei 用外婆給的羊毛做了一條溫暖的圍巾。

make + object + from + material

The bakery on Oak Street makes fresh bread every morning before sunrise.

橡樹街的那家麵包店每天天亮前都會做新鮮的麵包。

同義詞
  • create

    more formal and often implies originality or artistry; 'create' emphasises bringing something new into existence

  • build

    focuses on assembling parts or constructing something, often larger or more structural

  • produce

    more formal; often used for manufacturing at scale in a factory or business context

  • manufacture

    formal, specifically for industrial or machine-based production

反義詞
  • destroy

    to break something apart so it no longer exists

文法句型

make + something (noun phrase)

make + something + from/out of + material

用法筆記

Object is the thing being created. When mentioning the source material, use 'from' (the material is transformed), 'out of' (the material is visibly part of the result), or 'with' (the material is a tool or ingredient).

常見錯誤

❌I maked a cake for the party.
✅I made a cake for the party.
💡'make' is an irregular verb: the past form is 'made', not 'maked'.
❌She makes a cake by flour and eggs.
✅She makes a cake from flour and eggs.
💡Use 'from' or 'with', not 'by', to introduce the ingredients.

2. to direct, produce, or act in a film, television programme, or video; to be invo

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

拍攝；製作

導演、製作或演出影視作品

to direct, produce, or act in a film, television programme, or video; to be involved in creating a recorded moving picture.

例句

Kenji hopes to make a documentary about mountain villages in central Taiwan.

Kenji 希望拍攝一部關於台灣中部山區村落的紀錄片。

make + documentary + about + topic

That studio made over twenty films last year, mostly for streaming services.

那家工作室去年製作了二十多部電影，大部分是給串流平台的。

subject is a studio (organisation)

同義詞
  • produce

    specifically refers to managing the business and practical side of film production

  • direct

    focuses on the creative control and instruction of actors and camera work

  • shoot

    informal; refers to the filming process itself rather than the whole production

文法句型

make + a film/programme/documentary/series/video

用法筆記

Subject can be a director, producer, actor, studio, or any person involved in creating the film or programme. This sense is distinct from 'make' (CREATE), which refers to physical objects.

常見錯誤

❌They made a photo of the sunset.
✅They took a photo of the sunset.
💡Use 'take a photo', not 'make a photo', for still photography.

3. to cause something to happen or someone to feel a particular way; to be the reas

3.動詞及物B1
釋義

導致

讓某事發生或引發某種感受

to cause something to happen or someone to feel a particular way; to be the reason why a situation, feeling, or event occurs.

例句

The heavy rain made the driving conditions dangerous all afternoon.

大雨導致整個下午開車條件都很危險。

make + object + adjective (cause a state)

Eating too much sugar late at night can make it hard to fall asleep.

深夜吃太多糖會讓人很難入睡。

make + it + adjective + to-infinitive

同義詞
  • cause

    more formal and direct; 'cause' is preferred in formal writing about reasons and results

  • lead to

    suggests a chain of events rather than one direct cause; 'lead to' is intransitive

  • get

    informal; 'get + object + to-infinitive' (e.g., 'get him to agree') implies persuasion rather than direct cause

反義詞
  • prevent

    to stop something from happening

文法句型

make + someone/something + adjective

make + someone/something + verb (bare infinitive)

make + it + adjective + to-infinitive

用法筆記

The cause is the subject and the result or effect is the object. This sense commonly uses 'make + object + adjective' (e.g., 'make it easy') or 'make + object + bare infinitive' (e.g., 'make him wait'). The adjective can describe a feeling, a condition, or a judgement.

常見錯誤

❌The rain made me to stay home.
✅The rain made me stay home.
💡After 'make' meaning 'cause', use the bare infinitive (without 'to').
❌She made that I was angry.
✅She made me angry.
💡Do not use 'make + that-clause' for causing feelings; use 'make + object + adjective' instead.

4. to cause someone or something to enter a new condition, role, or form; to change

4.動詞及物A2
釋義

讓；使

讓某人或某物進入新狀態或角色

to cause someone or something to enter a new condition, role, or form; to change what something is like or what someone's job or position is.

例句

The fresh paint and new curtains made the old living room look bright.

新油漆和新窗簾使老舊的客廳看起來很明亮。

make + object + adjective (change appearance)

Nadia's encouraging words made everyone feel welcome at the welcome party.

Nadia 鼓勵的話使每個人在迎新派對上都感到受歡迎。

文法句型

make + object + adjective (change to a new state)

make + object + noun (appoint or transform into)

make + object + past participle (cause a change by an action)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 3 (CAUSE): sense 3 focuses on causing events or feelings, while sense 4 focuses on changing the state, appearance, or role of someone or something. Common complement types are adjectives (make it bigger), nouns (make him captain), and past participles (make it known).

常見錯誤

❌The new paint made the room to look brighter.
✅The new paint made the room look brighter.
💡After 'make' in this sense, use the bare adjective or past participle, not 'to + verb'.
❌They made him like a king.
✅They made him a king.
💡With a role or job title, use a noun directly after the object, not 'like + noun'.

5. to do what is needed so that there is no doubt about something happening, being

5.動詞及物B1
釋義

確保

採取行動確認某事會發生或屬實

to do what is needed so that there is no doubt about something happening, being true, or being done properly.

例句

Please make sure you lock the front door before you leave for work.

請確保你出門上班前鎖好了大門。

make sure + that-clause (implied 'that')

Elena made certain that every guest had a vegetarian meal option.

Elena 確認了每位賓客都有素食餐點可以選擇。

make certain + that-clause

同義詞
  • ensure

    more formal; 'ensure + that-clause' is common in official and professional writing

  • guarantee

    stronger — implies a promise or certainty that cannot fail

  • check

    focuses on the action of verifying rather than taking action to cause an outcome

反義詞
  • neglect

    to fail to take care of something that should be done

文法句型

make sure/certain + that-clause

make sure + to-infinitive

make sure/certain + of + something

用法筆記

Always paired with 'sure' or 'certain' — 'make' alone does not carry this meaning. 'Make sure' is more common in everyday speech, while 'make certain' is slightly more formal. The that-clause can omit 'that' in informal speech.

常見錯誤

❌I made sure the door.
✅I made sure the door was locked.
💡'make sure' must be followed by a clause, a 'to'-infinitive, or 'of' + noun, not by just a noun.
❌I made sure of that he came.
✅I made sure that he came.
💡After 'make sure', use 'that' + clause, not 'of that' + clause.

6. to force someone to do something they do not want to do, or to cause something t

6.動詞及物B1
釋義

迫使

強迫某人做不想做的事

to force someone to do something they do not want to do, or to cause something to happen unavoidably; to compel action through pressure or circumstances.

例句

The teacher made the students rewrite their essays using better sources.

老師強迫學生用更好的參考資料重寫作文。

make + object + bare infinitive (active causative)

Takeshi's broken ankle made him miss the final three weeks of the season.

Takeshi 腳踝骨折，使得他錯過了球季最後三週的比賽。

同義詞
  • force

    stronger and more confrontational; 'force' often implies physical or strong pressure, while 'make' can be circumstantial

  • compel

    formal; 'compel + object + to-infinitive' is used in legal or official contexts

  • cause

    gentler — does not carry the sense of unwillingness or resistance

反義詞
  • allow

    to let someone do what they choose without pressure

  • let

    informal; opposite of forcing — to permit without interference

文法句型

make + someone/something + verb (bare infinitive)

be made + to-infinitive (passive)

用法筆記

In the active voice, the verb after the object has no 'to' (bare infinitive). In the passive voice, 'to' reappears: 'She was made to wait for an hour.' Distinguish from sense 7 (BE FORCED) which is only used in the passive and describes the experience of being compelled.

常見錯誤

❌My boss made me to work on Saturday.
✅My boss made me work on Saturday.
💡In the active causative structure, use the bare infinitive, not the to-infinitive.
❌I was made wait for an hour.
✅I was made to wait for an hour.
💡In the passive voice, the 'to' returns before the verb.

7. to be forced or required to do something that you did not choose to do — for exa

7.動詞不及物B1
釋義

被迫

被迫做不願意做的事

to be forced or required to do something that you did not choose to do — for example, being made to wait for a long time, or being made to follow a rule.

例句

Guests at the hotel were made to wait over an hour for their rooms.

飯店的客人被迫等了一個多小時才有房間。

passive: be made to wait

Théo was made to apologise to the whole class for his rude comment.

Théo 被迫為他在班上說的粗魯話向全班道歉。

同義詞
  • forced

    more direct; can be active or passive

  • compelled

    more formal, often about moral or legal obligation

  • obliged

    usually about duty or social expectation rather than direct force

反義詞

文法句型

be made to + infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently appears in the passive voice. The active equivalent ("make someone do something") belongs to a separate sense of the verb. Distinguish from sense 6 (active causative): here the subject is the person who is forced, not the person who does the forcing.

常見錯誤

❌He made to wait at the station.
✅He was made to wait at the station.
💡This sense is always passive; the active form 'make someone do X' is a different meaning.

8. to do something specific — like making a choice, a phone call, or an attempt — w

8.動詞及物A2
釋義

執行；進行

執行某個動作或活動

to do something specific — like making a choice, a phone call, or an attempt — where the noun that follows shows what that action is.

例句

Lien made a careful decision after reading all the information.

Lien 讀完所有資料後，做了一個審慎的決定。

collocation: make a decision

I need to make a phone call before the meeting starts.

開會之前我需要打一通電話。

collocation: make a phone call

同義詞
  • perform

    more formal; used for tasks or duties

  • carry out

    suggests completing a plan or instruction

  • do

    more general; often replaces 'make' in informal speech for some nouns

文法句型

make + a/an + noun (decision, call, move, effort, attempt)

用法筆記

The choice of object noun determines the specific meaning. Common fixed collocations include: 'make a decision', 'make a phone call', 'make an attempt', 'make an offer', 'make a move', 'make a choice'. Unlike the verb 'do', which is used for work or tasks ('do homework'), 'make' with an action noun often signals a single, defined event.

常見錯誤

❌I need to do a phone call.
✅I need to make a phone call.
💡'Make' (not 'do') is used with specific action nouns like phone call, decision, attempt, and offer.

9. to shift yourself or push objects aside so that someone or something can pass, s

9.動詞及物B1
釋義

騰出

挪出空間讓人或物通過

to shift yourself or push objects aside so that someone or something can pass, sit, or fit into a space — used in the fixed expressions 'make room', 'make space', and 'make way'.

例句

Emma moved her bag to make room for an elderly passenger on the bus.

Emma 把她的包包移開，讓出一位老年乘客搭公車的座位。

collocation: make room for

The crowd made way as the ambulance came down the narrow street.

救護車開進狹窄街道時，人群紛紛讓路。

collocation: make way

同義詞
  • clear

    suggests removing obstacles completely

  • free up

    informal, used for time or space

反義詞
  • block

    opposite of creating space

  • fill

    filling space rather than creating it

文法句型

make + room/space/way + for + noun

用法筆記

Used almost exclusively in the three fixed expressions 'make room', 'make space', and 'make way'. 'Make way' can also have a figurative meaning ('make way for new ideas'). The object noun is never modified by an article ('make room' not 'make a room').

常見錯誤

❌Can you make a room for me on the sofa?
✅Can you make room for me on the sofa?
💡In this sense, 'room' is an uncountable noun meaning 'space', not a countable room.

10. to pull up the sheets, blankets, and pillows on a bed and arrange them neatly af

10.動詞及物A2
釋義

整理

把床鋪的床單被褥弄整齊

to pull up the sheets, blankets, and pillows on a bed and arrange them neatly after someone has slept in it.

例句

Mum always asks us to make our beds before we leave for school.

媽媽總是叫我們離家上學前把床鋪整理好。

fixed expression: make your bed

Otis made his bed and put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

Otis 整理好床鋪，並把髒衣服放進洗衣籃。

同義詞
  • tidy

    more general, can apply to any area

  • straighten

    implies neatening without full tidying

文法句型

make + the bed

用法筆記

This sense only combines with 'bed' as the object. You cannot 'make a sofa' or 'make a chair' in the same way. 'Make the bed' is a fixed, idiomatic expression that A2 learners should learn as a single unit.

常見錯誤

❌Please organise the bed.
✅Please make the bed.
💡This is a fixed expression; 'make' (not 'organise', 'tidy', or 'arrange') is the correct verb for this household task.

11. to produce a particular amount or number when added together — used in arithmeti

11.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

總計；等於

加起來總共是多少數量

to produce a particular amount or number when added together — used in arithmetic, accounting, or any situation where items combine into a sum.

例句

Seven and three make ten — that is the easiest sum in the book.

七加三等於十——這是這本書裡最簡單的算式。

arithmetic: number + and + number make + total

If you add the drinks and the food, that makes thirty dollars in total.

如果你把飲料和食物的錢加起來，總共是三十美元。

同義詞
  • equals

    formal; used in mathematics

  • totals

    specifically about adding to a sum

  • adds up to

    informal; works for both literal and figurative amounts

文法句型

X + makes + Y (amount/number)

用法筆記

Functions like a linking verb — it connects a set of items to their total. The subject can be singular or plural ('two and two makes four' or 'two and two make four'; both are accepted, though singular is more common in British English).

常見錯誤

❌Two plus two make to four.
✅Two plus two makes four.
💡'Make' is a linking verb here and does not take 'to' before the total.

12. to calculate or estimate an amount, distance, or value to be a particular number

12.動詞及物B1
釋義

估計；計算

推算或估計某個數量

to calculate or estimate an amount, distance, or value to be a particular number — used especially when you work something out in your head or from rough measurements.

例句

I make the distance from here to the station about two kilometres.

我估計從這裡到車站的距離大約兩公里。

pattern: make + object + amount (estimate)

Théo looked at the bill and made it forty-three pounds including the tip.

Théo 看了帳單，算出含小費總共是四十三英鎊。

同義詞
  • estimate

    more formal; emphasises approximation

  • calculate

    suggests using mathematical methods

  • reckon

    informal, also British; very similar to 'make' in this sense

文法句型

make + object + number/amount

make + object + to be + number

用法筆記

Predominantly British English. The subject is usually the person doing the calculating. The object can be followed directly by an amount ('make it ten dollars') or by a 'to be' clause ('make it to be ten dollars'). Common in spoken estimates: 'What do you make the time?'

常見錯誤

❌I calculate the answer forty-two.
✅I make it forty-two.
💡'Make' in this sense is a single verb that combines 'calculate' and 'come to'; you don't need a separate verb.

13. To receive money as payment for the work you do, or to get a profit from a busin

13.動詞及物B1
釋義

賺取；掙得

透過工作或交易獲得金錢

To receive money as payment for the work you do, or to get a profit from a business activity.

例句

Eri makes a good living as a freelance graphic designer in Taipei.

Eri 在台北當自由接案的平面設計師，賺取不錯的生活費。

collocation: make a living

The small bakery made over fifty thousand dollars in profit last year.

那間小麵包店去年賺了五萬多美元的利潤。

同義詞
  • earn

    more formal than 'make'; standard for wages and salary

  • gain

    broader — can include non-financial benefits like experience or trust

  • bring in

    phrasal verb; informal, especially about a business generating income

反義詞
  • lose

    opposite in financial contexts: 'lose money' vs 'make money'

  • spend

    opposite action: money going out rather than coming in

文法句型

make + money/profit/living

用法筆記

In informal conversation, 'make' is more common than 'earn' when talking about salary or profit. 'Earn' is slightly more formal and preferred in written contexts like contracts.

常見錯誤

✅ 'I made 500 dollars from my part-time job last week.' — 'Make' is natural and common in everyday conversation for talking about earning money from work. ✅ 'I earned 500 dollars from my part-time job last week.' — 'Earn' is slightly more formal and preferred in written English.

❌The business made a big earn this quarter.
✅The business made a big profit this quarter.
💡'Earn' is a verb, not a noun; use 'profit' or 'earnings' (plural) as a noun.

14. To successfully get to a place, point in time, or stage of progress, often after

14.動詞及物B1
釋義

趕上；到達

成功抵達某地或來得及

To successfully get to a place, point in time, or stage of progress, often after some effort or difficulty.

例句

The hikers finally made it to the top of the mountain just before sunset.

那群登山客終於在日落前成功抵達山頂。

make it to + place

Ava made the last train home with only thirty seconds to spare.

Ava 在末班車出發前三十秒趕上了最後一班火車。

同義詞
  • reach

    more direct and formal; no 'it' required: 'reach the airport'

  • get to

    informal phrasal verb; neutral for any destination

  • catch

    limited to scheduled transport: 'catch the train'

反義詞
  • miss

    opposite for transport or deadlines: 'miss the train'

文法句型

make + it + to/into + place/time/goal

用法筆記

When reaching a place or event, 'make' almost always requires the dummy object 'it': 'make it to [place]'. The 'it' cannot be dropped. For scheduled transport ('make the train'), 'it' is optional.

常見錯誤

❌I made to the airport just in time.
✅I made it to the airport just in time.
💡The dummy object 'it' is required in this sense.
❌She made to the final exam on time.
✅She made it to the final exam on time.
💡Same rule applies regardless of the destination.

15. To be chosen as a member of a sports team, musical group, or other competitive o

15.動詞及物B2
釋義

入選；獲選

成功獲選進入團隊

To be chosen as a member of a sports team, musical group, or other competitive organization after trying out or being considered.

例句

Layla practised every day for a year and finally made the school basketball team.

Layla 每天練習整整一年，最後終於入選了學校籃球隊。

make + the + [team name]

After three years of difficult auditions, Sirin made the national youth choir.

Sirin 經過三年艱難的試音，終於獲選加入國家青年合唱團。

同義詞
  • be selected for

    more formal and general; works for any group or position

  • get into

    informal; commonly used for schools, clubs, or competitive programs

  • qualify for

    focus on meeting the requirements rather than being chosen

反義詞
  • be cut from

    opposite: removed from a team during tryouts or after being on it

文法句型

make + the + team/group/squad/cut

用法筆記

Always used with a definite article or determiner: 'make the team', 'make the squad', 'make the cut'. Cannot be used without an article (*'make team').

常見錯誤

❌I made team after the tryouts.
✅I made the team after the tryouts.
💡The definite article 'the' is required.
❌I made the team's selection committee.
✅I made the team.
💡Simpler is better; the sense is about being selected for the group, not about joining a committee within it.

16. To be reported about in newspapers, on television, or in online media as a notab

16.動詞及物B2
釋義

登上新聞

成為媒體報導的內容

To be reported about in newspapers, on television, or in online media as a notable event.

例句

The discovery of the ancient temple near Tainan made international news last week.

台南附近發現古廟的消息上週登上了國際新聞。

make + [type of] news

Anya's rescue of a stranded family of ducks made the local newspaper.

Anya 拯救一窩受困鴨子的故事登上了當地報紙。

同義詞
反義詞
  • go unnoticed

    opposite: an event that attracts no media attention

文法句型

make + the + news/headlines/front page

用法筆記

Common collocations include 'make the news', 'make headlines', and 'make the front page'. The news medium is almost always preceded by a definite article or determiner.

常見錯誤

❌Her story made news front page.
✅Her story made the front page of the news.
💡Use a determiner before the news medium.
❌The event made a big news.
✅The event made the news.' or 'The event made big news.
💡'News' is uncountable; do not use 'a'.

17. To add a final element that turns something good into something complete, ideal,

17.動詞及物B2
釋義

使完美

增添最後元素使其圓滿

To add a final element that turns something good into something complete, ideal, or exactly right for a particular situation.

例句

The leather jacket really makes the outfit — it ties the whole look together.

那件皮外套讓這套穿搭瞬間完整——把所有元素都串了起來。

make + noun (the outfit/meal/evening)

A little more salt would make this soup absolutely perfect.

再多加一點鹽，就能讓這碗湯變得完美。

同義詞
  • complete

    focus on finishing rather than transforming; 'the scarf completes the outfit'

  • top off

    phrasal verb; informal, adds the finishing touch

  • crown

    literary or figurative; 'the goal crowned a brilliant performance'

反義詞
  • ruin

    opposite effect: 'the loud music ruined the atmosphere'

文法句型

make + noun + adjective (complement)

用法筆記

Often used informally to express that one specific element transforms an experience or object. The complement (adjective) follows the direct object: 'make [something] perfect', not *'make perfect [something]'.

常見錯誤

❌The music makes perfect the party.
✅The music makes the party perfect.
💡The adjective complement must follow the direct object, not before it.
❌These shoes make perfect my dress.
✅These shoes make my dress perfect.
💡Same word-order rule applies to all adjective complements.

makes — 名詞