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#2 (permalink) Wed Feb 01, 2006 10:29 am Makes |
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Hi aila,
This use of make here means oblige/persuade/force as in:
I don't know what made me do it = I don't know what persuaded me to do it.
In the test sentence: What makes you say that? really means what persuades you to say that or Why do you say that?
Hope this is clear.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:36 am Please explain this phrase: "What makes you say that, madam?" |
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Quote: | This use of make here means oblige/persuade/force as in:
I don't know what made me do it = I don't know what persuaded me to do it
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One key thing to point out is the use of the word "to" (or lack thereof) in the last sentences. (I think it has something to do with transitive versus intransitive verbs...ask an English professor for more details)
When using "make" we don't need to say "to".
I don't know what made me do it However, when using a word like persuade or force, the word "to" is needed.
I don't know what persuaded/forced me to do it. |
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Redbmk New Member
Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 2
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#4 (permalink) Thu May 17, 2012 0:22 am Please explain this phrase: "What makes you say that, madam?" |
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Hi dear. The figther between make and do is endless. Further I study this subject less I learn. I will go on trying to assimilate the spirit of the matter. Who knows one day I find out the logic of that hard theme. Thank you. |
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Cristovam I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 269
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#5 (permalink) Thu May 17, 2012 6:55 am Please explain this phrase: "What makes you say that, madam?" |
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I guess you will just have to make do.
Sorry, I could not resist. |
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Luschen I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 8541 Location: Nashville TN, USA
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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#7 (permalink) Fri May 18, 2012 0:20 am Please explain this phrase: "What makes you say that, madam?" |
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Sorry mister luschen. I would thank if you can explain what you answered to me. Please do it. Again, do not forget that. It`s evidente that my English knowledge is very limited and I am here to learn. I am sure you will send me a message. Regards. |
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Cristovam I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 269
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#8 (permalink) Fri May 18, 2012 0:54 am Please explain this phrase: "What makes you say that, madam?" |
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Hi, "make do" means to do your best with what you have available. I thought it was funny since you had trouble differentiating between make and do, so I used an expression that contained both words. |
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Luschen I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 8541 Location: Nashville TN, USA
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#9 (permalink) Fri May 18, 2012 1:00 am Please explain this phrase: "What makes you say that, madam?" |
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In the most common cases, make means to create something, and do means to perform an action. The word do tends to be more general, because you are doing something when you make an item.
For example,
Person A: What are you doing? Person B: I am making bread.
The word make is also commonly used to mean "force to". If you "make someone do something" you are forcing them to perform that action.
For example,
Mother: Will you do the dishes? Son: Mom, please don't make me do the dishes! I want to go play outside!
I think most other uses of "make" and "do" that might seem confusing are idioms, which tend not to make very much sense regardless. |
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Redbmk New Member
Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 2
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Using: others, other, anothes | now they vs. they now |