make
She will make a cake for the party.
Sie wird für die Party einen Kuchen machen.
etwas herstellen oder erschaffen
He makes his own furniture.
Er baut seine Möbel selbst.
They make wine in this region.
In dieser Region wird Wein hergestellt.
Often used with materials or products.
etwas verursachen oder bewirken
The news made her cry.
Die Nachricht ließ sie weinen.
This decision will make a difference.
Diese Entscheidung wird einen Unterschied machen.
Followed by an object + adjective or infinitive verb.
Geld verdienen
She makes $50,000 a year.
Sie verdient 50.000 Dollar im Jahr.
Often used with amounts or currencies.
sich entscheiden oder beschließen
I made to leave early.
Ich beschloss, früh zu gehen.
Followed by an infinitive verb.
etwas passend oder fertig machen
Can you make the bed?
Kannst du das Bett machen?
She made herself ready for the interview.
Sie machte sich für das Vorstellungsgespräch fertig.
Often used with objects like beds, meals, or oneself.
Kollokationen
Verwandte Ausdrücke
Profi-Tipp
Common Mistakes with 'make'
German learners often overuse 'machen' for all senses of 'make'. Remember that 'make' can also mean 'cause' (e.g., 'make someone happy' = 'jemanden glücklich machen'), 'earn' (e.g., 'make money' = 'Geld verdienen'), or 'prepare' (e.g., 'make a bed' = 'das Bett machen').
Goldene Regel
When to Use 'make' + Object + Adjective
Use 'make' + object + adjective to describe the effect or result of an action. For example, 'The story made her happy' = 'Die Geschichte machte sie glücklich'.
Wortursprung
Old English 'macian', from Proto-Germanic '*makōną', related to Old Norse 'maka' and Dutch 'maken'. The original sense was 'to fit, assemble'.
Verwendungshinweise
'Make' is one of the most versatile verbs in English. It often requires a direct object and can be followed by an adjective, noun, or infinitive verb. In German, the most common translations are 'machen', 'herstellen', 'bewirken', or 'verdienen', depending on context.