Make vs. Makes: When to Use Each with Clear Examples

Understanding the nuances of English grammar can significantly enhance clarity and precision in communication. Among the most commonly confused elements are verb conjugations, particularly the difference between “make” and “makes.” While seemingly minor, using the correct form is crucial for grammatical accuracy and conveying a professional or polished tone.

This distinction primarily hinges on subject-verb agreement, a fundamental rule in English that dictates how verbs change based on the number and person of their subjects. Mastering this concept will ensure your writing is both correct and effective.

The Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is the principle that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.

The verb “make” is the base form, typically used with plural subjects or the pronouns “I,” “you,” and “we.” Conversely, “makes” is the third-person singular present tense form, used with singular subjects like “he,” “she,” “it,” or singular nouns.

This rule applies across most verbs in English, but the “s” ending in the third-person singular present tense is a common marker for many.

“Make” with Plural Subjects

The verb “make” is used when the subject of the sentence is plural. This includes plural nouns and collective nouns acting as a single unit when referring to multiple individuals or items.

Pronouns such as “we,” “they,” and “you” (when referring to more than one person) also take “make.” For instance, “The students make a lot of noise.”

Consider the sentence structure: “The engineers make significant contributions to the project.” Here, “engineers” is plural, so “make” is the correct verb form.

“Make” with “I” and “You”

The pronoun “I” always takes the base form of the verb in the present tense, meaning it pairs with “make.” This is a common point of confusion for learners, as “I” refers to a single person but uses a plural verb form.

“You” also takes “make,” regardless of whether it refers to one person or multiple people. This grammatical convention helps to simplify verb conjugations for this pronoun.

Examples include: “I make a decision quickly,” and “You make a good point.” These sentences correctly use “make” due to the first-person singular and second-person pronouns, respectively.

“Make” with Compound Subjects Joined by “and”

When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunction “and,” they form a compound subject. This compound subject is almost always considered plural, and therefore, it requires the verb “make.”

The subjects are treated as a collective group performing the action together. For example, “John and Mary make a great team.”

This principle extends to more complex compound subjects: “The marketing team and the sales department make efforts to collaborate.” The combined effort necessitates the plural verb form.

“Makes” with Singular Subjects

The verb “makes” is exclusively used when the subject of the sentence is singular and in the third person. This includes singular nouns, singular pronouns, and indefinite pronouns that refer to a single entity.

The most common subjects requiring “makes” are “he,” “she,” and “it.” For instance, “She makes a beautiful cake.”

Proper nouns and singular common nouns also fall into this category: “David makes innovative designs,” or “The company makes a profit.”

“Makes” with Third-Person Singular Pronouns

Third-person singular pronouns are the most frequent subjects that necessitate the use of “makes.” These pronouns represent individuals or things that are distinct from the speaker and the listener.

The key pronouns are “he” (referring to a male person), “she” (referring to a female person), and “it” (referring to a non-human entity or an abstract concept).

Illustrative examples include: “He makes excuses often,” “She makes a difference in the community,” and “It makes sense to proceed.”

“Makes” with Singular Nouns

Singular nouns, whether common or proper, always require the third-person singular verb form, “makes.” This applies whether the noun refers to a person, place, thing, or idea.

For instance, “The chef makes a delicious soup.” Here, “chef” is a singular noun. Similarly, “Paris makes a wonderful travel destination.”

Even abstract singular nouns follow this rule: “Honesty makes the best policy.” The singular nature of “honesty” dictates the use of “makes.”

“Makes” with Indefinite Pronouns (Singular)

Certain indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “everybody,” “anyone,” “anybody,” “someone,” “somebody,” “no one,” and “nobody,” are always treated as singular and thus take “makes.”

These pronouns refer to an unspecified person or people but function grammatically as singular entities. For example, “Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.”

The same applies to pronouns like “each,” “either,” and “neither” when they stand alone as the subject: “Each makes a valid point.”

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

One frequent error is using “make” with a singular subject, often due to overlooking the subject’s number or misapplying rules for pronouns like “I” or “you.” Another common mistake is using “makes” with compound subjects joined by “and.”

To avoid these, always identify the true subject of the sentence and determine if it is singular or plural. If the subject is “he,” “she,” “it,” or a singular noun/indefinite pronoun, use “makes.” If the subject is “I,” “you,” “we,” “they,” or a plural noun, use “make.”

Practicing sentence construction and proofreading carefully for subject-verb agreement will significantly reduce errors.

“Make” vs. “Makes” in Questions

In questions, the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” often precedes the subject, and the main verb remains in its base form. This means “make” is used even if the implied subject is singular.

For example, “Does she make time for hobbies?” Here, “Does” already indicates the third-person singular, so “make” is correct. If “does” were not present, it would be “She makes time.”

Contrast this with questions using “do”: “Do they make this product in blue?” The plural subject “they” requires “do” and the base verb “make.”

“Make” vs. “Makes” in Negative Sentences

Similar to questions, negative sentences use auxiliary verbs “do” or “does” followed by “not” and then the base form of the verb. This also means “make” is used regardless of the subject’s singularity.

Consider: “He does not make a fuss.” The auxiliary “does” handles the third-person singular agreement, allowing “make” to remain in its base form. Without “does not,” it would be “He makes no fuss.”

For plural subjects or “I,” “you,” “we”: “We do not make mistakes.” The auxiliary “do” is used, and the verb is “make.”

“Make” vs. “Makes” in Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is used for commands or requests. In this mood, the subject is typically the implied “you,” and the verb is always in its base form.

Therefore, “make” is the correct form in imperative sentences. An example is: “Make a reservation before you arrive.”

This rule holds true even if the command is directed at a single person; the grammatical structure dictates the use of the base verb. “Make haste!” is another example.

Contextual Examples: “Make” in Action

Let’s examine sentences where “make” is the correct choice. “The children make a mess when they play.” The subject “children” is plural.

“We make plans for the weekend.” The pronoun “we” is plural.

“You make a difference with your kindness.” The pronoun “you” takes the base form.

“They make a living as artists.” The pronoun “they” is plural.

“My friends and I make a good team.” The compound subject is plural.

Contextual Examples: “Makes” in Action

Now, let’s look at situations requiring “makes.” “The manager makes sure everyone is on schedule.” The subject “manager” is singular.

“She makes an effort to be punctual.” The pronoun “she” is third-person singular.

“This machine makes a loud noise.” The subject “machine” is singular.

“Everybody makes mistakes; it’s part of learning.” The indefinite pronoun “everybody” is singular.

“The dog makes funny noises when it sleeps.” The subject “dog” is singular.

Advanced Considerations: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee, family, audience) can be tricky. They can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individuals within the group.

If the collective noun acts as a single entity, it takes a singular verb (“makes”). Example: “The committee makes a decision.” If the individuals within the group are emphasized, it takes a plural verb (“make”). Example: “The committee make their way to the podium separately.”

However, in American English, collective nouns are more frequently treated as singular, so “makes” is often preferred even when individual actions are implied, unless the context strongly emphasizes the members acting independently.

Advanced Considerations: “Make” vs. “Made”

It’s also important to distinguish between the present tense forms (“make,” “makes”) and the past tense form (“made”). “Made” is the past tense and past participle of “make” and is used regardless of the subject’s number or person.

For example, “He made a mistake yesterday.” The subject is “He” (singular), but the past tense verb “made” is used. Similarly, “They made progress on the project.”

Understanding this temporal distinction prevents confusion between present tense usage and past actions.