Make vs. cause

[heike]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #55 "Chit Chat: Talking about the Doctor", question 5

Mike: That can ......... walking very difficult.

(a) do
(b) make
(c) cause
(d) give

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #55 "Chit Chat: Talking about the Doctor", answer 5

Mike: That can make walking very difficult.

Correct answer: (b) make

Your answer was: incorrect
Mike: That can cause walking very difficult.
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why did ya use make instead of cause ?
would ya please explain to me ?and i will be v gratful.

[Alan]

Hi,

Make and cause use different constructions after them

Look at these two:

The sudden gust of wind made him fall over.

The sudden gust of wind caused him to fall over.

Alan

PS If you wanted to use cause in the test sentence, you would have to say: ...cause walking to be very difficult
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Sunflower]

Hello,

there is a slight difference:
--> to make sth/sb + adjective
make it very difficult
--> to cause sb/ sth to be + adjective or to do sth
cause it to be very difficult
but not "cause sth + adjective"

take care

[P_Chanlee]

Hello Alan
Why do can not be used? Please me explain.

Thank

[Alan]

Hi Chanlee,

The verb 'do' in this context doesn't make sense. In English you 'make' something happen.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Kati Svaby]

Hello Alan,

Isn't this causative or is it ?

I thought:
That can make walking very difficult. / because she is in pain in her back /

Then I can say:
That can make understanding very difficult. / because his vocabulary is poor /
That can make cooking very difficult. / because I have a few ingredients /

Thanks:
K.S.

[Hxuanhung]