Make vs. Makes — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 27, 2024
"Make" is the base form of the verb, used with plural subjects or the pronoun "I," while "makes" is the third-person singular present tense, used with singular subjects.
Difference Between Make and Makes
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Make" functions as the base form of the verb, indicating the action of creating, constructing, or forming something. It's generally used with plural subjects or the pronoun "I." On the other hand, "makes" is the third-person singular present tense form of "make," used when the subject of the sentence is a singular noun or pronoun (he, she, it).
While "make" can also serve as a command or imperative, such as in instructions or recipes, indicating a direct action to be taken by the reader or listener, "makes" cannot be used in this way due to its specific subject-verb agreement.
Make is versatile, appearing in various tense constructions, "makes" is limited to present tense narratives, focusing on habitual actions, routines, or general truths about a single subject's actions.
Make is used in the infinitive form "to make" in various expressions, instructions, or plans, indicating potential or future actions. Conversely, "makes" is rarely found in the infinitive form due to its specific present tense usage.
Comparison Chart
Subject-Verb Agreement
Plural subjects, "I"
Singular third-person subjects
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Tense
Base form, various tenses
Present tense only
Usage in Commands
Yes, as in "Make your bed."
No
Infinitive Form
"To make" used frequently
Rarely used
Example Sentence
"We make a great team."
"He makes a great leader."
Compare with Definitions
Make
To create something.
They make a new playlist every week.
Makes
Arranges or prepares.
She makes her lunch every day.
Make
To force someone to do something.
The situation makes me reconsider.
Makes
Succeeds in reaching or achieving.
He makes the cut for the team.
Make
To achieve, reach, or attain.
She makes the target easily.
Makes
Creates or forms.
He makes toys for a living.
Make
To arrange or prepare.
I make my bed every morning.
Makes
Causes something to happen.
The story makes me cry.
Make
To cause to be or become.
The movie makes you think.
Makes
Establishes or designs.
She makes a good argument.
Make
To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create
Made problems for us.
Making a commotion.
Makes
To cause to exist or happen; bring about; create
Made problems for us.
Making a commotion.
Make
To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct
Make a dress.
Made a stone wall.
Makes
To bring into existence by shaping, modifying, or putting together material; construct
Make a dress.
Made a stone wall.
Make
To form by assembling individuals or constituents
We made a temporary information center using savvy volunteers.
Makes
To form by assembling individuals or constituents
We made a temporary information center using savvy volunteers.
Make
To change from one form or function to another
Make clay into bricks.
Makes
To change from one form or function to another
Make clay into bricks.
Make
To cause to be or become
Made her position clear.
A decision that made him happy.
Makes
To cause to be or become
Made her position clear.
A decision that made him happy.
Make
To cause to assume a specified function or role
Made her treasurer.
Made Austin his home.
Makes
To cause to assume a specified function or role
Made her treasurer.
Made Austin his home.
Make
To cause to act in a specified manner
Heat makes gases expand.
Makes
To cause to act in a specified manner
Heat makes gases expand.
Make
To compel
Made him quit.
Makes
To compel
Made him quit.
Make
To form in the mind
Make an estimate.
Makes
To form in the mind
Make an estimate.
Make
To compose
Make verses.
Makes
To compose
Make verses.
Make
To prepare; fix
Make dinner.
Makes
To prepare; fix
Make dinner.
Make
To get ready or set in order for use
Made the bed.
Makes
To get ready or set in order for use
Made the bed.
Make
To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
Makes
To gather and light the materials for (a fire).
Make
To engage in
Make war.
Makes
To engage in
Make war.
Make
To carry out; perform
Make a phone call.
Make an incision.
Makes
To carry out; perform
Make a phone call.
Make an incision.
Make
To achieve, produce, or attain
Made peace between the two sides.
Not making sense.
Didn't make the quota.
Makes
To achieve, produce, or attain
Made peace between the two sides.
Not making sense.
Didn't make the quota.
Make
To institute or establish; enact
Make laws.
Makes
To institute or establish; enact
Make laws.
Make
To draw up and execute in a suitable form
Make a will.
Makes
To draw up and execute in a suitable form
Make a will.
Make
To arrange or agree to
Make a date.
Makes
To arrange or agree to
Make a date.
Make
To arrive at; reach
Made Seattle in two hours.
Makes
To arrive at; reach
Made Seattle in two hours.
Make
To reach in time
Just made the plane.
Makes
To reach in time
Just made the plane.
Make
To attain the rank or position of
Made lieutenant.
Makes
To attain the rank or position of
Made lieutenant.
Make
To acquire a place in or on
Made the baseball team.
Made the newspapers.
Makes
To acquire a place in or on
Made the baseball team.
Made the newspapers.
Make
To gain or earn, as by working
Make money.
Makes
To gain or earn, as by working
Make money.
Make
To behave so as to acquire
Make friends.
Makes
To behave so as to acquire
Make friends.
Make
To score or achieve, as in a sport
Made a field goal.
Makes
To score or achieve, as in a sport
Made a field goal.
Make
To assure the success of
Favorable reviews can make a play.
Makes
To assure the success of
Favorable reviews can make a play.
Make
To favor the development of
Practice makes a winning team.
Makes
To favor the development of
Practice makes a winning team.
Make
To be suited for
Oak makes strong furniture.
Makes
To be suited for
Oak makes strong furniture.
Make
To develop into
Will make a fine doctor.
Makes
To develop into
Will make a fine doctor.
Make
To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of
Don't know what to make of the decision.
Makes
To draw a conclusion as to the significance or nature of
Don't know what to make of the decision.
Make
To calculate as being; estimate
I make the height 20 feet.
Makes
To calculate as being; estimate
I make the height 20 feet.
Make
To consider as being
Wasn't the problem some people made it.
Makes
To consider as being
Wasn't the problem some people made it.
Make
To constitute
They make a great team.
Makes
To constitute
They make a great team.
Make
To add up to
Two and two make four.
Makes
To add up to
Two and two make four.
Make
To amount to
Makes no difference.
Makes
To amount to
Makes no difference.
Make
To cover (a distance)
Made 200 miles before sunset.
Makes
To cover (a distance)
Made 200 miles before sunset.
Make
To constitute the essence or nature of
Clothes make the man.
Makes
To constitute the essence or nature of
Clothes make the man.
Make
To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding
Your being along really made the outing.
Makes
To cause to be especially enjoyable or rewarding
Your being along really made the outing.
Make
To appear to begin (an action)
She made to leave.
Makes
To appear to begin (an action)
She made to leave.
Make
To act or behave in a specified manner
Make merry.
Make free.
Makes
To act or behave in a specified manner
Make merry.
Make free.
Make
To begin or appear to begin an action
Made as if to shake my hand.
Makes
To begin or appear to begin an action
Made as if to shake my hand.
Make
To cause something to be as specified
Make ready.
Make sure.
Makes
To cause something to be as specified
Make ready.
Make sure.
Make
To proceed in a certain direction
Made for home.
Made after the thief.
Makes
To proceed in a certain direction
Made for home.
Made after the thief.
Make
(Slang) To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like
Made like a ballerina.
Makes
(Slang) To pretend to be; imitate. Used with like
Made like a ballerina.
Make
To undergo fabrication or manufacture
This wool makes up into a warm shawl.
Makes
To undergo fabrication or manufacture
This wool makes up into a warm shawl.
Make
To rise or accumulate
The tide is making.
Makes
To rise or accumulate
The tide is making.
Make
The style or manner in which a thing is made
Disliked the make of my coat.
Makes
The style or manner in which a thing is made
Disliked the make of my coat.
Make
A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark
A famous make of shirt.
Makes
A specific line of manufactured goods, identified by the manufacturer's name or the registered trademark
A famous make of shirt.
Make
The origin of a product's manufacturing
A bicycle of a French make.
Makes
The origin of a product's manufacturing
A bicycle of a French make.
Make
The physical or moral nature of a person
Found out what make of man he was.
Makes
The physical or moral nature of a person
Found out what make of man he was.
Make
The physical nature or build of an animal or person
A horse of a beautiful make.
Makes
The physical nature or build of an animal or person
A horse of a beautiful make.
Make
(Slang) Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records
Did you get a make on the thief?.
Makes
(Slang) Identification of a person or thing, often from information in police records
Did you get a make on the thief?.
Make
(transitive) To create.
Makes
Plural of make
I would vote against a net.auto.bmw. Problems/comments regarding all makes are of interest, to me anyway.
Make
To build, construct, produce, or originate.
We made a bird feeder for our yard.
I'll make a man out of him yet.
He makes deodorants.
Make
To write or compose.
I made a poem for her wedding.
He made a will.
Make
To bring about; to effect or produce by means of some action.
Make war
They were just a bunch of ne'er-do-wells who went around making trouble for honest men.
Make
(religious) To create (the universe), especially (in Christianity) from nothing.
God made earth and heaven.
Make
(transitive) To prepare (food); to cook (food).
I'm making cereal for breakfast. Who wants some?
Make
To behave, to act.
To make like a deer caught in the headlights.
They made nice together, as if their fight never happened.
He made as if to punch him, but they both laughed and shook hands.
Make
(intransitive) To tend; to contribute; to have effect; with for or against.
Make
To constitute.
They make a cute couple.
This makes the third infraction.
One swallow does not a summer make.
Make
(transitive) To add up to, have a sum of.
Two and four make six.
Make
To interpret.
I don’t know what to make of it.
They couldn't make anything of the inscription.
What time do you make it?
Make
To bring into success.
This company is what made you.
She married into wealth and so has it made.
Make
To cause to be.
The citizens made their objections clear.
This might make you a bit woozy.
Did I make myself heard?
Scotch will make you a man.
Make
To cause to appear to be; to represent as.
Homer makes Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus, unlike Hesiod who depicted her as born from the sea foam.
Make
To cause (to do something); to compel (to do something).
You're making her cry.
I was made to feel like a criminal.
Make
To force to do.
The teacher made the student study.
Don’t let them make you suffer.
Make
To indicate or suggest to be.
His past mistakes don’t make him a bad person.
Make
To cover neatly with bedclothes.
Make
To recognise, identify, spot.
Make
To arrive at a destination, usually at or by a certain time.
We should make Cincinnati by 7 tonight.
Make
To proceed (in a direction).
They made westward over the snowy mountains.
Make for the hills! It's a wildfire!
They made away from the fire toward the river.
Make
(transitive) To cover (a given distance) by travelling.
Make
(transitive) To move at (a speed).
The ship could make 20 knots an hour in calm seas.
This baby can make 220 miles an hour.
Make
To appoint; to name.
Make
To induct into the Mafia or a similar organization (as a made man).
Make
To defecate or urinate.
Make
(transitive) To earn, to gain (money, points, membership or status).
They hope to make a bigger profit.
He didn't make the choir after his voice changed.
She made ten points in that game.
Make
(transitive) To pay, to cover (an expense); chiefly used after expressions of inability.
Make
To compose verses; to write poetry; to versify.
Make
To enact; to establish.
Make
To develop into; to prove to be.
She'll make a fine president.
Make
To form or formulate in the mind.
Make plans
Made a questionable decision
Make
To perform a feat.
Make a leap
Make a pass
Make a u-turn
Make
(intransitive) To gain sufficient audience to warrant its existence.
In the end, my class didn't make, which left me with a bit of free time.
Make
(obsolete) To act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to interfere; to be active; often in the phrase to meddle or make.
Make
(obsolete) To increase; to augment; to accrue.
Make
(obsolete) To be engaged or concerned in.
Make
To cause to be (in a specified place), used after a subjective what.
Make
To take the virginity of.
Make
(intransitive) Of water, to flow toward land; to rise.
Make
Brand or kind; model.
What make of car do you drive?
Make
Manner or style of construction (style of how a thing is made); form.
Make
Origin (of a manufactured article); manufacture; production.
The camera was of German make.
Make
A person's character or disposition.
Make
(dated) The act or process of making something, especially in industrial manufacturing.
Make
(uncountable) Quantity produced, especially of materials.
Make
(computing) A software utility for automatically building large applications, or an implementation of this utility.
Make
(slang) Identification or recognition (of identity), especially from police records or evidence.
Make
Past, present, or future target of seduction (usually female).
Make
A promotion.
Make
A home-made project
Make
(cards) Turn to declare the trump for a hand (in bridge), or to shuffle the cards.
Make
(basketball) A made basket.
Make
(physics) The closing of an electrical circuit.
Make
Mate; a spouse or companion; a match.
Make
A halfpenny.
Make
An agricultural tool resembling a scythe, used to cut (harvest) certain plants such as peas, reeds, or tares.
Make
A companion; a mate; often, a husband or a wife.
For in this world no woman isWorthy to be my make.
Make
Structure, texture, constitution of parts; construction; shape; form.
It our perfection of so frail a makeAs every plot can undermine and shake?
Make
To cause to exist; to bring into being; to form; to produce; to frame; to fashion; to create.
He . . . fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf.
Make
To produce, as something artificial, unnatural, or false; - often with up; as, to make up a story.
And Art, with her contending, doth aspireTo excel the natural with made delights.
Make
To cause to be or become; to put into a given state verb, or adjective; to constitute; as, to make known; to make public; to make fast.
Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?
See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh.
Make
To bring about; to bring forward; to be the cause or agent of; to effect, do, perform, or execute; - often used with a noun to form a phrase equivalent to the simple verb that corresponds to such noun; as, to make complaint, for to complain; to make record of, for to record; to make abode, for to abide, etc.
Call for Samson, that he may make us sport.
Wealth maketh many friends.
I will neither plead my age nor sickness in excuse of the faults which I have made.
Make
To cause to appear to be; to constitute subjectively; to esteem, suppose, or represent.
He is not that goose and ass that Valla would make him.
Make
To execute with the requisite formalities; as, to make a bill, note, will, deed, etc.
He accuseth Neptune unjustly who makes shipwreck a second time.
Make
To require; to constrain; to compel; to force; to cause; to occasion; - followed by a noun or pronoun and infinitive.
I will make them hear my words.
They should be made to rise at their early hour.
Make
To find, as the result of calculation or computation; to ascertain by enumeration; to find the number or amount of, by reckoning, weighing, measurement, and the like; as, he made the distance of; to travel over; as, the ship makes ten knots an hour; he made the distance in one day.
Who makes or ruins with a smile or frown.
Make
To become; to be, or to be capable of being, changed or fashioned into; to do the part or office of; to furnish the material for; as, he will make a good musician; sweet cider makes sour vinegar; wool makes warm clothing.
And old cloak makes a new jerkin.
Make
To compose, as parts, ingredients, or materials; to constitute; to form; to amount to; as, a pound of ham makes a hearty meal.
The heaven, the air, the earth, and boundless sea,Make but one temple for the Deity.
Make
To be engaged or concerned in.
Gomez, what makest thou here, with a whole brotherhood of city bailiffs?
Make
To reach; to attain; to arrive at or in sight of.
They that sail in the middle can make no land of either side.
If a child were crooked or deformed in body or mind, they made him away.
Make the doors upon a woman's wit, and it will out at the casement.
He was all made up of love and charms!
Make
To act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to interfere; to be active; - often in the phrase to meddle or make.
A scurvy, jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make.
Make
To proceed; to tend; to move; to go; as, he made toward home; the tiger made at the sportsmen.
Make
To tend; to contribute; to have effect; - with for or against; as, it makes for his advantage.
Follow after the things which make for peace.
Considerations infiniteDo make against it.
Make
To increase; to augment; to accrue.
Make
To compose verses; to write poetry; to versify.
To solace him some time, as I do when I make.
Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled.
My lord of London maketh as though he were greatly displeased with me.
Make
A recognizable kind;
There's a new brand of hero in the movies now
What make of car is that?
Make
The act of mixing cards haphazardly
Make
Engage in;
Make love, not war
Make an effort
Do research
Do nothing
Make revolution
Make
Give certain properties to something;
Get someone mad
She made us look silly
He made a fool of himself at the meeting
Don't make this into a big deal
This invention will make you a millionaire
Make yourself clear
Make
Make or cause to be or to become;
Make a mess in one's office
Create a furor
Make
Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner;
The ads induced me to buy a VCR
My children finally got me to buy a computer
My wife made me buy a new sofa
Make
Give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally;
Cause a commotion
Make a stir
Cause an accident
Make
Create or manufacture a man-made product;
We produce more cars than we can sell
The company has been making toys for two centuries
Make
Make, formulate, or derive in the mind;
I draw a line here
Draw a conclusion
Draw parallels
Make an estimate
What do you make of his remarks?
Make
Compel or make somebody or something to act in a certain way;
People cannot be made to integrate just by passing a law!
Heat makes you sweat
Make
Create by artistic means;
Create a poem
Schoenberg created twelve-tone music
Picasso created Cubism
Auden made verses
Make
Earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages;
How much do you make a month in your new job?
She earns a lot in her new job
This merger brought in lots of money
He clears $5,000 each month
Make
Create or design, often in a certain way;
Do my room in blue
I did this piece in wood to express my love for the forest
Make
To compose or represent:
This wall forms the background of the stage setting
The branches made a roof
This makes a fine introduction
Make
Reach a goal, e.g.,
Make the first team
We made it!
She may not make the grade
Make
Be or be capable of being changed or made into;
He makes a great host
He will make a fine father
Make
Make by shaping or bringing together constituents;
Make a dress
Make a cake
Make a wall of stones
Make
Perform or carry out;
Make a decision
Make a move
Make advances
Make a phone call
Make
Make by combining materials and parts;
This little pig made his house out of straw
Some eccentric constructed an electric brassiere warmer
Make
Change from one form into another;
Make water into wine
Make lead into gold
Make clay into bricks
Make
Act in a certain way so as to acquire;
Make friends
Make enemies
Make
Charge with a function; charge to be;
She was named Head of the Committee
She was made president of the club
Make
Achieve a point or goal;
Nicklaus had a 70
The Brazilian team got 4 goals
She made 29 points that day
Make
Reach a destination, either real or abstract;
We hit Detroit by noon
The water reached the doorstep
We barely made it to the finish line
I have to hit the MAC machine before the weekend starts
Make
Institute, enact, or establish;
Make laws
Make
Carry out or commit;
Make a mistake
Commit a faux-pas
Make
Add up to;
Four and four make eight
Make
Form by assembling individuals or constituents;
Make a quorum
The branches made a roof
Make
Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course
Make
Prepare for eating by applying heat;
Cook me dinner, please
Can you make me an omelette?
Fix breakfast for the guests, please
Make
Put in order or neaten;
Make the bed
Make up a room
Make
Head into a specified direction;
The escaped convict took to the hills
We made for the mountains
Make
Have a bowel movement;
The dog had made in the flower beds
Make
Undergo fabrication or creation;
This wool makes into a nice sweater
Make
Be suitable for;
Wood makes good furniture
Make
Amount to;
This salary increase makes no difference to my standard of living
Make
Constitute the essence of;
Clothes make the man
Make
Appear to begin an activity;
He made to speak but said nothing i the end
She made a if to say hello to us
Make
Proceed along a path;
Work one's way through the crowd
Make one's way into the forest
Make
Reach in time;
We barely made the plane
Make
Gather and light the materials for;
Make a fire
Make
Assure the success of;
A good review by this critic will make your play!
Make
Represent fictitiously, as in a play, or pretend to be or act like;
She makes like an actress
Make
Consider as being;
It wasn't the problem some people made it
Make
Calculate as being;
I make the height about 100 feet
Make
Cause to be enjoyable or pleasurable;
Make my day
Make
Favor the development of;
Practice makes the winner
Make
Develop into;
He will make a splendid father!
Make
Behave in a certain way;
Make merry
Make
Eliminate urine;
Again, the cat had made on the expensive rug
Common Curiosities
Can "make" be used in questions?
Yes, e.g., "Do you make your bed daily?"
What does "make" imply in an imperative sentence?
It gives a command or instruction.
How do I know when to use "make" or "makes"?
Use "make" with plural subjects or "I"; "makes" with he, she, it.
Does "makes" always imply creation?
Not always; it can also indicate causing an action or state.
Can "makes" be used to indicate habits?
Yes, e.g., "She makes coffee every morning."
Can "make" and "makes" be used interchangeably?
No, their use depends on the subject's number and person.
What is the base form of "makes"?
The base form is "make."
Is "makes" only used in present tense?
Yes, "makes" is the present tense form for singular third-person subjects.
How do "make" and "makes" differ in negative sentences?
"Do not make" for plural subjects or "I," "does not make" for singular third-person.
Is "make" used in idiomatic expressions?
Yes, such as "make ends meet."
Can "make" be used without a direct object?
Sometimes, as in "I make every morning."
Is "makes" used in passive constructions?
No, it's active voice. For passive, "is made" or "are made" is used.
How does subject-verb agreement affect "make" and "makes"?
It determines which form is correct based on the subject's number and person.
Can "make" and "makes" be used in future tense constructions?
"Make" can, with will or going to; "makes" generally does not appear in future tense.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
