Introduction
Phrasal verbs are one of the most challenging—and most rewarding—parts of learning English. They make your speech sound natural, fluent, and native-like. Today, we focus on one of the most common verbs in English: make. When combined with different particles (like up, out, off, for), make transforms into a powerful tool for everyday communication. By the end of this post, you will know over 15 phrasal verbs with make, understand their meanings, and use them correctly in sentences.
What Are Phrasal Verbs with Make?
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb (here, make) and a particle (a preposition or adverb like up, out, for). Together, they create a new meaning that is often different from the original verb. For example, make up does not mean “to create something upwards”—it means to reconcile or to invent. These verbs are essential for B1–B2 learners because they appear frequently in conversations, movies, and even formal writing.
Rules for Using Phrasal Verbs with Make
- Separable vs. Inseparable: Some phrasal verbs with make are separable (you can put the object between the verb and particle), while others are inseparable. For example: I made up a story. (separable) vs. I made for the exit. (inseparable).
- Object Placement: If the object is a pronoun (like it, him, her), it must go between the verb and particle in separable phrasal verbs. Example: She made it up. (Not: She made up it.)
- Context Matters: Many phrasal verbs with make have multiple meanings. For instance, make out can mean “to understand” or “to kiss passionately.” Always check context.
- Formality: Most phrasal verbs with make are neutral or informal. Avoid them in very formal academic writing, but use them freely in speaking and everyday emails.
How to Use Phrasal Verbs with Make
Follow these steps to use them correctly:
- Learn the meaning first. Read the list below and understand each definition.
- Memorize the particle. The particle (up, out, off, for) changes the meaning completely. For example: make up ≠ make out.
- Practice with pronouns. Since pronouns must go between the verb and particle in separable verbs, practice saying: I made it up or He made her up.
- Use in real situations. Try to use one new phrasal verb each day. For example, when you arrive late, say: I need to make up for lost time.
Examples in Sentences
Here are 15+ phrasal verbs with make in real sentences. The phrasal verb is bolded for emphasis.
- Make up (reconcile): After their argument, they decided to make up and be friends again.
- Make up (invent): She made up a funny excuse for being late.
- Make out (understand): I can’t make out what he is saying because of the noise.
- Make out (kiss): The teenagers were making out in the park.
- Make for (head toward): When the storm started, we made for the nearest shelter.
- Make for (contribute to): Good communication makes for a happy relationship.
- Make off (escape quickly): The thief made off with the woman’s handbag.
- Make off with (steal): Someone made off with my bicycle from the garage.
- Make over (renovate/transform): They made over the old kitchen into a modern space.
- Make over (transfer ownership): He made over his house to his daughter.
- Make do (manage with less): We didn’t have milk, so we made do with water.
- Make away with (steal or kill): The robber made away with thousands of dollars.
- Make into (transform): The factory makes old plastic bottles into new furniture.
- Make up for (compensate): I bought her flowers to make up for forgetting her birthday.
- Make of (interpret): What do you make of his strange behavior?
Common Mistakes
Avoid these errors when using phrasal verbs with make:
- ❌ Wrong: She made up it after the fight.
✅ Correct: She made it up after the fight. (Pronoun must go between verb and particle.) - ❌ Wrong: I need to make for the lost time.
✅ Correct: I need to make up for the lost time. (Use “make up for” to compensate, not “make for.”) - ❌ Wrong: He made out of the room quickly.
✅ Correct: He made for the exit quickly. (Use “make for” to mean head toward a place.) - ❌ Wrong: They made over the house to new owners.
✅ Correct: They made over the house to their son. (Use “make over” for transferring ownership, but add the recipient.) - ❌ Wrong: What do you make up of this news?
✅ Correct: What do you make of this news? (“Make of” means interpret, not “make up.”)
Quick Summary
- Make up = reconcile OR invent
- Make out = understand OR kiss
- Make for = head toward OR contribute to
- Make off with = steal
- Make over = renovate OR transfer
- Make do = manage with less
- Make up for = compensate
- Make of = interpret
- Remember: pronouns go between make and the particle in separable verbs.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct phrasal verb from the list: make up, make out, make for, make off with, make do.
- After the argument, they decided to ________ and forgive each other.
- The noise was so loud I couldn’t ________ what the teacher was saying.
- When the rain started, we quickly ________ the nearest café.
- The cat ________ the fish from the kitchen counter.
- We didn’t have enough chairs, so we ________ with cushions on the floor.
Answers:
- make up
- make out
- made for
- made off with
- made do
Conclusion
Phrasal verbs with make are a fantastic way to sound more natural and confident in English. Start by learning a few each week, and practice using them in your daily conversations. Remember the rules about separable verbs and pronouns, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—that’s how you learn! Keep practicing, and soon these phrasal verbs will become second nature.
FAQ
1. What is the difference between “make up” and “make out”?
Make up usually means to reconcile after a disagreement or to invent a story (e.g., “They made up after the fight” or “She made up an excuse”). Make out can mean to understand something with difficulty (e.g., “I can’t make out his handwriting”) or to kiss passionately (e.g., “They were making out in the car”). The context tells you which meaning is intended.
2. Can I use “make up for” and “make up” interchangeably?
No. Make up (without “for”) means to reconcile or invent. Make up for means to compensate for a loss or mistake. For example: “I made up with my friend” (reconciled) vs. “I bought her a gift to make up for being late” (compensate). They are different phrasal verbs.
3. Is “make do” a phrasal verb?
Yes, make do is a fixed phrasal verb meaning to manage with what is available, even if it is not enough. It is always used without an object between “make” and “do.” Example: “We didn’t have sugar, so we made do with honey.” It is very common in everyday English.
4. How do I know if a phrasal verb with “make” is separable or inseparable?
Most phrasal verbs with make that have a literal meaning (like make for meaning “head toward”) are inseparable. Verbs with idiomatic meanings (like make up meaning “invent”) are usually separable. A good rule: if the particle is a preposition (for, into), it is often inseparable. If it is an adverb (up, out), it is often separable. Always check a dictionary or this list for confirmation.