How to Use 'Let' and 'Make'

Download this explanation about 'let' and 'make' in PDF.
Try an exercise about 'let' and 'make' here.

Let

Subject + let + object + bare infinitive (infinitive without 'to')

'Let' can mean 'allow' or 'give permission': We can also use 'let' to mean 'allow' in the sense of 'make something possible': Let's + infinitive is often used to make a suggestion: (Although 'let's' is a contraction of 'let us', we don't use 'let us' in this situation). We don't use 'let' in the passive.

Make

Subject + make + object + bare infinitive (infinitive without 'to')

'Make' can mean 'force someone to do something that he or she doesn't want to do': It can also be used to mean 'cause someone to do something' (the thing can be good or bad): If we use 'make' in the passive, we use the infinitive with 'to' instead of the bare infinitive: We can also use subject + make + object + adjective. This means 'cause the object to be the adjective' (the adjective can be good or bad):

Choosing 'let' or 'make'

Remember, we use 'let' when we mean 'allow'. It's usually something the person wants to do: We use 'make' when we mean 'force' or 'cause'. It's often something the person doesn't want to do: When 'make' means 'cause' it can be something good or bad: Laughing is a good thing, BUT laughing isn't something I wanted to do that my brother gave me permission for. Instead it's something that he caused.

We can only use 'make + object + adjective'. We can't use 'let' in this way.

Try an exercise about 'let' and 'make' here.