How to Master the “Make + Object + Bare Infinitive” Structure for IELTS Success?

The “Make + Object + Bare Infinitive” structure is a crucial grammatical pattern that frequently appears in IELTS exams. Mastering this construction can significantly enhance your language proficiency and boost your IELTS score. Let’s delve into the intricacies of this structure and explore how to effectively use it in various sections of the IELTS test.

Understanding the “Make + Object + Bare Infinitive” Structure

The “Make + Object + Bare Infinitive” structure is used to express causation or compulsion. It indicates that someone or something causes another person or thing to do an action. This construction is common in both spoken and written English, making it essential for IELTS candidates to grasp its usage.

Examples:

1. The teacher made the students study for an extra hour.
2. The new policy made the employees work overtime.
3. The loud noise made the baby cry.
4. Her inspirational speech made the audience applaud enthusiastically.
5. The heavy rain made us cancel our outdoor plans.

In each of these examples, the subject (teacher, new policy, loud noise, inspirational speech, heavy rain) causes the object (students, employees, baby, audience, us) to perform an action (study, work, cry, applaud, cancel).

IELTS grammar structure

Formula and Grammatical Analysis

The formula for this structure is:

Make + Object + Bare Infinitive

• Make: The verb “make” is used in its appropriate tense.
• Object: This is the person or thing being caused to do something.
• Bare Infinitive: This is the base form of the verb without “to”.

It’s crucial to note that unlike many other verb patterns, the infinitive used after “make” in this structure is the bare infinitive (without “to”).

Application in IELTS Writing Task 2

In IELTS Writing Task 2, using this structure can demonstrate your command over complex grammatical patterns. Here’s an example paragraph incorporating this structure:

“Environmental regulations make companies invest in cleaner technologies. These policies make businesses reconsider their production methods, often leading to more sustainable practices. Moreover, public awareness campaigns make consumers think twice before purchasing environmentally harmful products. By implementing such measures, governments can make society move towards a greener future.”

In this paragraph, the structure is used effectively to discuss environmental policies and their impacts, showcasing a high level of grammatical proficiency.

Usage in IELTS Speaking

For the IELTS Speaking test, incorporating this structure can enhance your responses and showcase your language skills. Consider this example:

Examiner: “Tell me about a time when you had to do something you didn’t want to do.”

Candidate: “Well, last year, my parents made me attend a family reunion I wasn’t keen on. Initially, I was reluctant, but their insistence made me reconsider my attitude. Surprisingly, the event made me realize the importance of family connections. It made me appreciate my relatives more and made me promise to stay in touch more often.”

This response demonstrates a natural and varied use of the “Make + Object + Bare Infinitive” structure, which can impress the examiner and potentially lead to a higher band score.

Advanced Usage for Higher Band Scores

To aim for higher band scores in IELTS, it’s essential to use this structure accurately and combine it with other advanced grammatical patterns. Here are some strategies:

1. Use with different tenses:

   • Past: “The deadline made the team work through the night.”
   • Present Perfect: “Climate change has made scientists develop new technologies.”
   • Future: “The new law will make companies reduce their carbon emissions.”

2. Combine with passive voice:

   • “Employees were made to work overtime by the new management.”
   • “Students are often made to participate in extracurricular activities.”

3. Use in complex sentences:

   • “Although the teacher made the students practice extensively, many still struggled with the concept.”
   • “Not only did the new policy make employees work longer hours, but it also made them take on additional responsibilities.”

4. Incorporate into conditional sentences:

   • “If the government made people recycle more, it would significantly reduce waste.”
   • “Had the coach made the team train harder, they might have won the championship.”

By incorporating these advanced uses, you can demonstrate a sophisticated command of English grammar, potentially boosting your IELTS score to Band 7 or higher.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When using the “Make + Object + Bare Infinitive” structure, IELTS candidates often make the following mistakes:

1. Adding “to” before the infinitive:

   • Incorrect: The teacher made the students to study.
   • Correct: The teacher made the students study.

2. Using the wrong form of the main verb:

   • Incorrect: The noise made the baby crying.
   • Correct: The noise made the baby cry.

3. Confusing “make” with “let” or “allow”:

   • Incorrect: The parents made their children to play outside.
   • Correct: The parents let their children play outside.

4. Incorrect word order:

   • Incorrect: The manager made work the employees overtime.
   • Correct: The manager made the employees work overtime.

5. Using the structure in the passive voice incorrectly:

   • Incorrect: The students were made study harder.
   • Correct: The students were made to study harder.

Remember, in the passive voice, “to” is required before the infinitive, which is an exception to the general rule.

Conclusion

Mastering the “Make + Object + Bare Infinitive” structure is crucial for IELTS success. It allows you to express causation and compulsion effectively, enhancing your writing and speaking responses. Practice using this structure in various contexts and combine it with other advanced grammatical patterns to aim for higher band scores. Be mindful of common mistakes, and always proofread your work to ensure correct usage. With consistent practice, you’ll be able to incorporate this structure naturally in your IELTS responses, demonstrating a high level of English proficiency.

To further improve your skills, try creating sentences using this structure related to common IELTS topics such as education, technology, environment, and social issues. This will help you prepare for potential questions in both the writing and speaking sections of the IELTS exam.