When & when NOT to use “MAKE” in English | Summary and Q&A

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September 19, 2019
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English with Ronnie · EnglishLessons4U with engVid
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When & when NOT to use “MAKE” in English

TL;DR

Learn when to use the verb 'make' and when to use alternative verbs like 'get', 'do', 'have', 'put on', and 'pack'.

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Key Insights

  • ❓ In English, we say 'get a boyfriend' or 'get a girlfriend' instead of 'make' when referring to romantic relationships.
  • 🏃 The verb 'do' is used for exercise, homework, tests, and sex in English.
  • 🤕 Age is referred to using verbs like 'turn' or 'become', not 'make'.
  • 📢 'Makeup' is a noun that requires a verb like 'put on' to accompany it.
  • 😋 Luggage is 'packed', not 'made', and other actions like making a bed or cooking food use 'make'.

Transcript

Rawr. Yeah, I'm jumping a lot. So, in English we have a verb called "make", and probably in your language you also have a verb that you use as "make", but maybe it's the same verb; like in Portuguese: "fazer". Oh, I hope I said that right. So, it's very, very, very, very, very, very confusing about, in English, when to use the verb "make" and when ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do we use 'get' instead of 'make' when talking about getting a boyfriend or girlfriend?

'Make' implies the act of creating something, while 'get' implies obtaining something. In English, we don't create a companion, so we say 'get a boyfriend' or 'get a girlfriend' instead of 'make'.

Q: Can we use 'make' when talking about doing exercise?

No, we use the verb 'do' when talking about exercise. 'Make' implies the act of creating something, while 'do' is used to describe the action of performing exercise.

Q: How do we talk about our age in English?

Instead of saying 'make' a certain age, we use the verb 'turn' or 'become'. For example, "I will turn 22" or "I became 22".

Q: Why is it incorrect to say 'makeup' when referring to cosmetics?

'Makeup' is a noun and needs a verb to accompany it. Instead of just saying 'makeup', use the phrasal verb 'put on'. For example, "I put on makeup" or "I applied makeup".

Q: Why can't we say 'make' homework or a test?

Homework and tests are activities that are done, not created. Instead of 'make', we use the verb 'do' when referring to them. For example, "I did my homework" or "I will do a test".

Q: Why do we use 'have' or 'had' instead of 'make' when talking about sex?

'Make' implies creating or constructing something, which doesn't make sense in the context of sex. Instead, we use the verb 'have' or 'had'. For example, "I had sex" or "I want to have sex".

Q: Why do we use the verb 'pack' instead of 'make' when talking about luggage?

'Make' implies creating something, while 'pack' refers to putting items into a bag or suitcase. Instead of saying 'make', we say 'pack our luggage' or 'pack our bags'.

Q: When do we use 'make' in expressions like 'make a choice' or 'make a commitment'?

In certain expressions and phrases, the verb 'make' is used to indicate creating or constructing something abstract. For example, "make a choice" means to decide on something, and "make a commitment" means to promise or pledge to do something.

Summary & Key Takeaways

  • The verb 'make' is not used when talking about making a boyfriend or girlfriend; instead, use 'get'.

  • When talking about exercise, use the verb 'do' instead of 'make'.

  • Age is not made, but rather we say 'turn' or 'become' a certain age.

  • Instead of saying 'makeup', use the phrasal verb 'put on'.

  • Homework and tests cannot be made, but rather they are done.

  • Use 'have' or 'had' when talking about sex, not 'make' or 'do'.

  • Rather than 'make', use the verb 'pack' when referring to luggage.

  • Certain expressions and phrases use the verb 'make', such as 'make a choice' or 'make a commitment'.

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