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We use "to make" a lot in English . It is one of ten most used verbs, so let's practice using "to make".

Present tense :                                        I, you, we, they make     
he, she, it makes   

Past:   I, we, you, they, he, she, it made

Do you make cookies often?
Do you make a mess in the kitchen when you cook?
Did you make that hat?
Do you make a grocery list?
What did you make for breakfast this morning?
I made dinner for my family last night.
Did you make an appointment with your dentist?

We use make when we create a product - cookies, a mess, a hat, a grocery list, breakfast, an appointment.

We also use "make " for:

  plans: - She made plans to go to Mexico.

  suggestions - She made a good suggestion about where I can look for a job.
 
   earning money - Beyonce makes a lot of money.

  earning money to pay for for food, rent, a car -  She makes a living cleaning houses.

  deciding - She made up her mind to study medicine.

  be understandable to a person - That idea makes sense to me.

  talk about where an object was produced/created: My phone was made in China.

Here is Latonya and Diana's conversation. Listen for the ways they use "make" and "made".

Latonya: Hi Diana! Are you busy?

Diana: Well, I’m making dinner right now…or I’m trying to make dinner anyway.

Latonya: Oh! I need to make something for dinner, too,  but I can’t make up my mind what to make. What are you making? 

Diana: I’m making a chicken casserole. But the recipe doesn’t make sense. And I made a big mistake. I added too much pepper. I think I made a mess in my kitchen for nothing.

Latonya: Can I make a suggestion?

Diana:  Sure!  I need a suggestion or maybe two!

Latonya: I’ll make a reservation for all of us at that new restaurant downtown. 

Diana: Great idea! I sold my old bike today and made $75. It will pay for our dinner. Make the reservation!  We’ll meet you there!  You made my day, Latonya!

Well, dear listener, we hope we made your day!

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