Make vs. Makes – Which is Correct?

The choice between “make” and “makes” hinges entirely on subject-verb agreement in the present tense. “Make” is used with plural subjects (e.g., “they make,” “we make”) and the pronouns “I” and “you.” “Makes” is reserved for singular third-person subjects (e.g., “he makes,” “she makes,” “it makes,” “the company makes”).

Make or Makes – Which is Correct?

Both “make” and “makes” are grammatically correct forms of the verb “to make” in American English. The distinction lies in subject-verb agreement, a fundamental rule that dictates the verb form must match the number (singular or plural) of its subject. “Make” is the base form of the verb, used with plural subjects and the pronouns “I” and “you.” “Makes” is the third-person singular present tense form, used exclusively with singular subjects like “he,” “she,” “it,” or any singular noun.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

The simplest trick to remember the difference is to think about the subject. If the subject could be replaced by “he,” “she,” or “it,” then you use “makes” (the form with the ‘s’). For all other subjects – “I,” “you,” “we,” “they,” or any plural noun – use “make.” You can also use a “Swap Test”: Try swapping your subject with “he” or “they.” If “he” fits, use “makes.” If “they” fits, use “make.”

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Make	Verb	To create, construct, cause to be, or become. Used with plural subjects and I/you.	We make decisions every day.
Makes	Verb	Third-person singular present tense of “to make.”	She makes delicious cookies.

How to Use Make

“Make” is the base form of the verb and is used in several grammatical contexts. It is primarily used with plural subjects (e.g., “The students make progress”) and with the first-person singular pronoun “I” (e.g., “I make a list”) and the second-person pronoun “you” (e.g., “You make a difference”). It also appears in infinitive phrases (e.g., “to make a plan”), after modal verbs (e.g., “should make,” “can make”), and in imperative sentences (e.g., “Make sure you lock the door”). The tone is neutral and highly versatile, fitting both formal and casual settings.

Example 1: They always make an effort to be on time for meetings.

Example 2: I need to make a phone call before the store closes.

Example 3: Can you make a suggestion for dinner tonight?

What are the different forms of Make?

“Make” is an irregular verb. Its principal parts are:

• Base Form (Present Simple, plural/I/you/we/they): make
• Third-Person Singular (Present Simple): makes
• Past Simple: made
• Past Participle: made
• Present Participle (Gerund): making

For example:

• Present: I make, you make, he/she/it makes, we make, they make
• Past: I made, you made, he/she/it made, we made, they made
• Future: I will make
• Perfect: I have made

Etymology of the word Make

The word “make” has deep roots in Old English, originating from “macian,” meaning “to fashion, construct, produce, prepare, cause, bring about, or do.” This Old English term itself evolved from a Proto-Germanic root “*makōną,” which conveyed similar meanings of fitting or assembling. Over centuries, its meaning has broadened to encompass a vast array of actions, from physical creation to causing an effect or rendering a judgment.

How to Use Makes

“Makes” is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb “to make.” It is used when the subject of the sentence is a singular noun (e.g., “The machine makes noise,” “The decision makes sense”) or a third-person singular pronoun (“he,” “she,” “it”). This form is essential for maintaining subject-verb agreement in present tense sentences. Like “make,” “makes” is a neutral verb that can be used in any register.

Example 1: The new policy makes a significant difference to our daily operations.

Example 2: He always makes his bed in the morning.

Example 3: This recipe makes enough for four servings.

What are the different forms of Makes?

“Makes” itself is a specific conjugated form of the verb “to make” – specifically, the third-person singular present indicative. It does not have further distinct “forms” in the same way the base verb “make” does. When we speak of other forms, we are referring to the conjugation of the root verb “to make” for different tenses and subjects, as detailed in the “What are the different forms of Make?” section above. For instance, the past tense of “makes” (if the subject remains singular) would be “made,” and the future tense would be “will make.”

Etymology of the word Makes

The word “makes” is simply the inflected form of “make,” with the “-s” suffix indicating the third-person singular present tense. Therefore, its etymology is identical to that of “make,” tracing back to the Old English “macian” and Proto-Germanic “*makōną.” The “-s” ending for third-person singular verbs became standardized in English during the Middle English period, evolving from older Germanic inflections.

Related Concepts

Understanding the following grammar concepts will further clarify when to use “make” versus “makes” and other similar verb pairs.

• Subject-Verb Agreement: This fundamental rule states that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
• Verb Conjugation: This refers to the way a verb changes its form to reflect person (first, second, third), number (singular, plural), tense (present, past, future), mood (indicative, imperative, subjunctive), and voice (active, passive).

Examples from Media and Literature

• “They make a desert and call it peace.” — Tacitus (often quoted in English translation)
• “What makes you think that?” — Common idiom, often seen in dialogue.
• “A good book makes a good friend.” — Saying attributed to various sources.
• “I make my own luck.” — From the film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966).
• “It makes no difference how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius.

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. My cat always ______ a mess when it eats.
2. We need to ______ a decision by tomorrow morning.
3. The children ______ too much noise during the movie.
4. He ______ sure to lock the door every night.
5. I usually ______ my coffee strong.

Answer Key

1. makes
2. make
3. make
4. makes
5. make

Make Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Create	To bring something into existence.
Produce	To manufacture or generate.
Construct	To build or form something.
Cause	To be the reason for something.
Render	To make or cause to be.

Makes Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Creates	Brings something into existence (third-person singular).
Produces	Manufactures or generates (third-person singular).
Constructs	Builds or forms something (third-person singular).
Causes	Is the reason for something (third-person singular).
Renders	Makes or causes to be (third-person singular).

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Why do “I” and “you” use “make” instead of “makes” even though they can refer to a single person?
The pronouns “I” (first-person singular) and “you” (second-person singular/plural) are exceptions to the standard third-person singular rule in English present tense conjugation. Historically, these pronouns developed different verb forms, and the base form of the verb (“make”) is used for them.

Question 2: Does “make or makes” apply to past tense?
No, the distinction between “make” and “makes” is only for the simple present tense. In the simple past tense, both singular and plural subjects use “made” (e.g., “I made,” “he made,” “they made”).

Question 3: How does this apply to negative sentences?
In negative sentences, the auxiliary verb “do” or “does” takes the tense and subject agreement. So, you would use “do not make” for plural subjects and “I/you” (e.g., “They do not make noise”), and “does not make” for singular third-person subjects (e.g., “He does not make mistakes”).

Conclusion

The distinction between “make” and “makes” is a classic example of subject-verb agreement in English. Remember that “make” pairs with plural subjects, “I,” and “you,” while “makes” is exclusively for singular third-person subjects. Mastering this rule is crucial for clear and grammatically correct communication, ensuring your writing and speech are polished and professional. Pro Tip: When in doubt, mentally substitute the subject with “he/she/it” (for ‘s’ form) or “they” (for base form) to quickly check for agreement.