For phrasal verbs with the word make a lot of meanings. In English you can find combinations like make after("chase"), make for("contribute"), make over(“redo”) and many other options make+ preposition Most of the combinations make+ we analyzed the preposition in . And today we decided to focus on the phrasal verb make up and consider 9 of its meanings. And as a bonus, you will learn some interesting phrases with make up that you can use in your speech.

1. To make up– to make excuses, to come up with an explanation for something, especially if a person wants to avoid punishment or does not want to look stupid. That is, you can translate the verb as “to compose”, “to invent”.

   One of my students tends to make up stories about his dog eating his homework. One of my students has a tendency to make up stories about his dog eating his homework.

2. To make up– compose a story, poem, etc. The synonym in this case is the verb to think up- “to invent”, “to invent”. In this meaning make up there is no negative connotation, as in the previous case. It's just a man who writes fictitious stories.
   

   He made up a little poem about rain and wrote it on a piece of paper. “He composed a little poem about rain and wrote it on a piece of paper.

3. To make up something- to consist, to connect.
   

   The film is made up of ten separate short stories. – The film consists of 10 separate short stories.

4. To make up– to prepare or organize something.
   

   The director asked me to make up a list of documents that we needed to sign. – The director asked me to prepare a list of documents that we had to sign.

   In the morning everyone makes the bed, and in the evening they prepare it for bed, that is, make up a bed. It is important to remember that in this case you need to use make, but not do.

   If you feel ill, stay at home. I will make up the bed for you. – If you feel sick, then stay home. I'll make a bed for you.

5. To make up something is used when we complete a sum or number. A synonym in this meaning is add up("add").
   

   We rent an apartment together. I pay 250 $ and she makes up the rest. – We rent an apartment together. I pay $250 and she adds the rest.

6. To make up– make peace with someone after a quarrel. Synonyms: befriend, make friends again.
   

   You have two options: either you forget about everything and make up with her or you will lose a friend. “You have two options: either you forget everything and make peace with her, or you lose your friend.”

   This phrase is also used as kiss and make up, which also means “to make peace.”

   My friends used to argue a lot but they always kissed and made up afterwards. – Previously, my friends often quarreled, but they always made up later.

7. To make up something– complete your working hours during non-working hours because you haven’t worked enough before, that is, to compensate for downtime.
   

   I am sorry I am late. I will make up the time this weekend. - I'm sorry I'm late. I'll work this time over the weekend.

8. To make up- produce something from clothes, sew.
   

   She didn’t like her old jeans that’s why she decided to make up a new bag from them. – She didn’t like her old jeans, so she decided to sew a new bag out of them.

9. To make up- putting make-up on someone's face.
   

   They made my face up to look like a clown. “They painted me up to look like a clown.”

• By the way, we wrote a very detailed article about make-up - makeup in English. The article “” will appeal to all fashionistas.

Watch a short video from a native speaker about this phrasal verb. Steph will tell you what happens after make up need to use some object, since this is ( transitive verb).

Phrases with make up

Phrasal verb make up can also be found in combination with other prepositions and words. We will offer you some interesting phrases that are worth learning.

1. To make up one's mind- make a decision, literally “make your mind.” If someone says “ My mind is made up” - this means that someone has made a decision and will no longer change it.
   

   Come on, make up your mind! - Let's! Make a decision!

2. To make up the leeway- catch up. They also say “ make up for lost time" This phrase was formed from the word “ leeway” – ship drift. You can trace the meaning of a phrase by word leeway: Once a ship has drifted, it will take time to catch up the distance the ship has drifted from its intended course.
   

   If we start in October, we will have to make up the leeway a lot, since our competitors are way ahead of us. – If we start in October, we will have to work hard to catch up, since our competitors are far ahead of us.

3. To make up to someone for doing something / for something- to compensate someone for something, to make up for it, to offer something good so that the person forgets the bad.
   

   I would like to get the full refund to make up for the faulty vase I bought there. – I would like a full refund as compensation for the defective vase that I bought there.

   Her boyfriend always buys flowers to make up to her for being late for the dates. Her boyfriend always buys flowers to compensate her for being late for dates.

As you can see with the phrasal verb make up there are many meanings, but there is something in all meanings that unites them: they are all aimed at creation, the creation of something. I hope you manage to remember them all. To do this, I advise you to write a short story about yourself using make up as many times as possible. Let this story be implausible, humorous, the main thing is that it will help you remember the meanings better. And after you compose the story ( make up a story), don't forget to make up your mind ( make up your mind) and send it in the comments to us for verification.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

When studying the meanings of the phrasal verb make, pay attention to how sometimes very different some of them are from those that result from combining this verb with some adverb or preposition (or both at the same time).

1. Make after- to set off in pursuit (after) someone; chase
The police made after the thief. - The police set off in pursuit of the thief.

2. Make away / make away with– get rid of someone, finish someone off; run away, sneak away
Synonyms for this meaning of the phrasal verb make are the verb kill and the phrase get rid of. When you use the option "make away with oneself / one's life" it implies committing suicide.
It was decided to make away with him. “It was decided to remove it.”
Why did this teenager decide to make away with himself? – Why did this teenager decide to commit suicide?

3. Make for- to head towards, rush at someone; promote, contribute to something
She got up and made for the exit. “She stood up and headed towards the exit.

4. Make into- remake, transform
Many flats are being made into offices nowadays. – Today, many apartments are being converted into offices.

5. Make of– evaluate, comment
I don’t know what to make of her behavior. – I don’t know how to evaluate her behavior.

6. Make off- run away, hide
The burglars made off with the jewelry. – The robbers ran away with the jewelry.

7. Make out– write out (an invoice), draw up (a document), approve, draw a conclusion; give reasons, understand; understand, distinguish; cope with something; hug, kiss

How is she making out in her university? How is she coping with her studies at the university?
We could just make out a farm through the trees. “Through the trees we could only see the farm.
As far as I can make out, he is a liar. - As far as I understand, he is a liar.
Could you make out a bill? – Could you write out an invoice?
She makes out that you offended her. - She claims that you offended her.
When should I make out this report? – When should I write this report?

8. Make over- remodel (remake), transfer (money), transfer your property to someone
They made the money over to him. - They transferred money to him.

9. Make up– form (team, group); pay extra, reimburse, make up; cook, make (according to a recipe); make (bed), asphalt (road); decide; invent, compose; collect, settle, make peace; paint, make-up; to approach, to approach

These ten chapters make up the whole book. – These ten chapters make up a whole book.
I made up the story of my travelling. – I came up with the story of my journey.
Let's make up. - Let's make peace.
Is it difficult to make her up? – Is it difficult to make her up?
Who will make up losses? – Who will compensate for the losses?
Ask the chemist to make up this prescription. – Ask your pharmacist to prepare this prescription.

10. Make up your mind!- Decide on something!
She was heavily made up. - She was heavily made up.

11. Make up for- compensate, compensate, make up, correct, make amends
He sent me a present to make up for his being impolite yesterday. “He sent me a gift to make up for the discourtesy he showed yesterday.”
I hope this will make up for your trouble. “I hope this will be a worthy compensation for your troubles.”

12. Make up to- suck up, make amends
I'll make it up to you. - I owe you one.

Knowing contextual phrases is extremely useful for understanding spoken language. The English language has many expressions that need to be learned because they do not follow standard rules. To make it much easier for you to learn the language, our site has selected the most common examples and expressions in which the phrasal verb make is used.

The verb to make in its original form means “to create something.”

• You can make great stories only if you have enough experience, wisdom and a bit of talent. - You can create brilliant stories only if you have enough experience, wisdom and a little talent.

Together with prepositions or adverbs, the modal verb acquires a completely different meaning and meaning. There are over 20 different phrasal verbs with make in the English language, making them the most difficult to learn. On the other hand, they are the most common. Knowing such expressions, you will be able to express yourself clearly - no worse than native speakers, understand speech in films and TV series, and read the English-language press without problems.

MAKEUP

In addition to the well-known meaning of “make up,” the expression can also mean “to compose” or “to invent.” For example:

• My teacher always wants us to make up stories, sentences or even small poems with new words. – My teacher always wants us to came up with stories, sentences or even small poems with new words.

No less popular is the meaning of the phrasal verb make up “to put up with.”

• Anna cheated on me and destroyed everything we had been dreaming about, that’s why I will never make up with her. – Anna cheated on me and thereby destroyed everything we dreamed of, so I’ll never be with her I'll make peace.

MAKE FOR

Used in American English to mean “to go somewhere”, “to go somewhere”. For example:

• My husband and I decided to make for a quiet and cozy place for our honeymoon. - My husband and I decided leave to a quiet and cozy place for our honeymoon.

The expression can also be translated as “to promote.”

• Your intense music and constant phone calls don’t make for my effective preparation for the final exam. – Your loud music and constant telephone conversations are not contribute effective preparation for the final exam.

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DURING THE CLASSES

1.T: You know that phrasal verbs are very common and are a really good way to make yourself sound more natural when speaking in informal speech. We have already learned some of them.
Today we will be busy with new phrasal verbs with make. The phrasal verb make may be few in number but it is important in usage as it is one of the most popular English phrasal verbs: make out, make of, make off, make over, make for, make up.

2.T: Revision of the verb make up. Do you remember the verb make up? It has at least three different meanings. What are they?
First, it can mean to invent, for example, a story. The story is not true – it did not really happen – it came from my imagination. I made it up.
Second, make-up(a noun formed from the phrasal verb) is the stuff women put on their faces – you know, eye-liner, eye-shadow, lip stick and so on. And if a woman makes herself up, it means that she puts her make-up on.

Third, suppose two friends have an argument. They are angry with each other. But later, they decide to forget their argument and to become friends again. We say that they have made up.

3.T: Introduction of new phrasal verbs. You will listen to some sentences where the phrasal verbs with make are used. You can also read them. Try to guess what they mean.

Make for

“After leaving school Bill made for the library.”

Make over

“I make over all my old clothes.”

Make of (something)

“What do you make of this book by M. Mitchell?” – “I couldn’t understand a word of it.”

Make off

“When I came in, the dog was eating my meat. It only took one look at me and made off.

Make out

“I don’t want to go to school today because I’m not ready for the test. I'll make out I'm ill."

Make out

“I can't make out what Janet has written.”

4.P1P2P3: Do you remember all the phrasal verbs with make? Match the verbs from column A with their definitions from column B

Keys: 1 – c, 2 – a, 3 – g, 4 – f, 5 – d, 6 – e, 7 – b.

5. Pairs:

Synonyms. Use the verb make and particles to make up phrasal verbs, which replace the words underlined in the sentences.

1. He said something angrily and went away. We've never seen him again.
2. – Where did you hear this story? – Nowhere, I invented it myself.
3. What do you think about the new policy the president signed?
4. After three years without talking to each other, they finally became friends again.
5. The actors must apply rouge, powder, etc. on their faces before going on stage.
6. I can hardly see the number on the door.
7. Her clothes were remade by herself perfectly well.
8. Let’s go to the city center and find a restaurant on the way.

Keys: 1 – make off, 2 – make up, 3 – make of, 4 – make up, 5 – make up, 6 – make for, 7 – make over, 8 – out.

6. Groups (Pairs):

Fill in the gaps with the correct particles.

1. They are always arguing, but they make *** again very quickly.
2. I couldn’t make *** what he was saying.
3. He rose from his seat and made *** the door.
4. Can you make *** a face here on the photograph?
5. She went to the bathroom to make her face ***.
6. Masked robbers broke in and made *** with $8,000.
7. At first I thought it was an accident, but as far as I can make ***, the police consider that’s unlikely.
8. I think they’re making the whole thing ***.
9. I think it’s time we made *** home.

Keys: 1 – up, 2 – out, 3 – for, 4 – out, 5 – up, 6 – off, 7 – of, 8 – up, 9 – for

7.Groups:
Do the test. For each space in each sentence, use the verb Make (in the correct tense) with one of the prepositions from the box. Sometimes you need to put the object/pronoun between the main verb and the preposition – in these cases, the object/pronoun can be found in the brackets. Use the Verbs Make in the Correct Tense with Particles from the Box

8.Groups:

Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. I don't know what to think about him.
2. Let's make peace!
3. She got up and headed towards the exit when she heard a knock.
4. Anna always pretends that her parents are rich, but this is not true.
5. I think that she made up the story in order to help her.
6. Clowns always put on makeup before a circus show.
7. I heard voices, but did not understand what they were saying.
8. The pop star sneaked out of the concert before fans could find him.
9. She knows how to alter her clothes.

1. I don’t know what I must make of him.
2. Let's make up.
3. She rose and made for the exit when she heard the knock.
4. Ann always makes out that her parents are rich, but it isn’t true.
5. I think she made up her story so that we would help her.
6. Clowns always make up before a circus show.
7. I could hear voices but I couldn’t make out what they are saying.
8. The pop star made offfrom the concert before the fans could find him.
9. She can remake over her clothes.

9. Pairs
Groups:

Try to make up short dialogues including phrasal verbs with make on the pictures and then present them in pairs. I'll give you 3-5 minutes to do it.

10.Homework.

1. Do the test. Choose the correct particles. Use a dictionary if necessary. (Reflection)

2. Prepare stories or short situations with phrasal verbs make and get ready to tell them in the class.

T: The lesson is over. I hope you’ll be able to be good at phrasal verbs and use them to be a fluent English speaker. Good luck!

Links&Resources

1. .
2. .
3. [Shitova L.F., Bruskina T.L. English-Russian dictionary of idioms and phrasal verbs. / Anthology / St. Petersburg, 2004].

If we give a conditional classification of the most popular verbs in the English language, one of the most common is the verb make. In addition to set expressions with the verb make, this grammatical unit also has some other distinctive features. Therefore, you should consider in detail how to correctly use this structure in certain cases, describe possible use cases with examples, and also determine what additional characteristics to make has.

Main characteristics

The translation of this verb in its standard form is “to do” and is often similar to another equally popular action word, to do. Perhaps this is why these two designs are often confused.

To make is an irregular verb. Along with many other structures, it is often conjugated in tenses and can be used to express different meanings, both continuous and perfect.

In addition, there are quite a few forms of the phrasal verb make, which is quite often used with various prepositions and acquires completely new meanings, unlike the original translation of this word.

Basic forms

The forms of the verb make are not formed according to the standard principle, since it, like other irregular verbs, changes its appearance with changing tenses.

The conjugation of this action word provides three forms: Indefinite, Past and Perfect. The second form in this case is exactly the same as the third: make – made – made. At the same time, the verb form make has not only a past tense and a perfect form, but also a variant necessary to express duration - making, which, like most verbs, is formed using the ending –ing:

• You're making a lot of noise, please stop! –You too much strongly making noise, Please, stop!
• Look, she has made a few mistakes -Look she made some mistakes

These 3 verb forms are used quite actively in the English language, so it is necessary to navigate them, otherwise there is a risk of using the wrong tense.

Questions

In sentences, this verb cannot act as an auxiliary verb; therefore, he cannot ask the question on his own and in such a phrase he will appear after the subject:

• Have you made a list? –You made up list?
• Did they make a decision then? – Did they make a decision at that time?

Negative sentences

The particle not is a standard element with the help of which negation is formed. Due to the fact that make cannot act as an auxiliary verb, but only as an independent verb, in a negative sentence this particle is added to the auxiliary:

• Wait, I haven't made a choice yet –Wait, I more Not did choice
• They didn't make friends though we wanted it –They didn't become friends, although we wanted them to.

Make as modal verb (modal)

Despite the fact that this structure cannot be considered as a full-fledged modal verb, it still has modal features. In particular, this structure is translated as “to force.” If any action is used after it, it will be expressed by an infinitive without the particle to. It can also be followed by an adjective:

• They made me start once again– They made me start again
• Joan made me furious –Joan infuriated me

Like phrasal verb (phrasal)

Phrasal verbs are special lexical units, the essence of which is to convey different meanings through the same verbal form. Prepositions play a key role in this case, on which the meaning of this or that action depends.

Make as a Phrasal verb has quite a few meanings. For example, make up for is a phrasal verb that translates as “compensate, compensate.” There are other options:

All of the above features allow us to call it a rather important structure of the English language. It is important not to confuse its use in various constructions with another action verb - do. The use of its phrasal or modal forms is very typical for both spoken and written speech.