1. Definition and Explanation
The phrasal verb “make up” is a versatile expression with multiple meanings, making it an essential component of advanced English vocabulary. In the context of IELTS, understanding and using this phrasal verb correctly can significantly enhance your language proficiency and score.
Primary Meanings:
- To invent or create a story, excuse, or explanation
- To compensate for something
- To reconcile after a disagreement
- To comprise or constitute
- To apply cosmetics
Synonyms and Equivalent Expressions:
- Invent, fabricate, concoct (for creating stories)
- Compensate, atone for, make amends (for compensating)
- Reconcile, patch things up (for resolving conflicts)
- Constitute, form, compose (for comprising)
- Apply cosmetics, put on makeup (for cosmetic application)
2. Contextual Usage
Understanding how to use “make up” in various contexts is crucial for IELTS success. Here are examples demonstrating its versatility:
- “I couldn’t attend the meeting, so I had to make up an excuse.” (Invent)
- “He tried to make up for his mistake by working overtime.” (Compensate)
- “After their argument, the couple quickly made up.” (Reconcile)
- “Women make up about 50% of the workforce in many countries.” (Comprise)
- “She always makes up her face before going out.” (Apply cosmetics)
Multiple contexts of 'make up' phrasal verb usage
3. Grammatical Analysis
“Make up” is a separable phrasal verb, meaning that in some cases, you can place the object between “make” and “up.”
Separable Usage:
- “She made the story up.” OR “She made up the story.”
- “I need to make my mind up.” OR “I need to make up my mind.”
Inseparable Usage:
When using pronouns, the phrasal verb must remain together:
- “She made it up.” (NOT “She made up it.”)
- “They made up quickly.” (When meaning to reconcile)
4. Application in IELTS
Speaking Section:
In the IELTS Speaking test, using “make up” can demonstrate your vocabulary range and fluency. Here are some example responses:
Describing a conflict resolution:
“My friend and I had a misunderstanding, but we quickly made up and our relationship is now stronger than ever.”Discussing work-life balance:
“I often have to make up for lost time at work by staying late, which can affect my personal life.”Talking about creativity:
“As a writer, I enjoy making up stories that captivate my readers’ imagination.”
Writing Section:
In IELTS Writing, “make up” can add sophistication to your essays. However, be mindful of the formality level required:
For Task 1 (Academic):
“Women make up approximately 45% of the total workforce in the given chart.”For Task 2:
“Some argue that social media platforms make up an integral part of modern communication, despite potential drawbacks.”
IELTS Speaking and Writing: Effective use of 'make up'
5. Related Phrasal Verbs
To expand your vocabulary further, here are some phrasal verbs related to “make up”:
Make out (/’meɪk aʊt/): To see, hear, or understand with difficulty
Example: “I could barely make out what he was saying in the noisy room.”Make for (/’meɪk fɔːr/): To head towards; to result in
Example: “We decided to make for the nearest shelter when it started raining.”Make of (/’meɪk ʌv/): To understand or interpret something
Example: “I don’t know what to make of his strange behavior.”Make do (/’meɪk duː/): To manage with the limited resources available
Example: “When we ran out of butter, we had to make do with margarine.”Make over (/’meɪk ˈəʊvər/): To change or renovate the appearance of something
Example: “They made over their living room, giving it a modern look.”Make up for (/’meɪk ʌp fɔːr/): To compensate for
Example: “He bought her flowers to make up for forgetting their anniversary.”Make off (/’meɪk ɒf/): To leave quickly, often secretly
Example: “The thief made off with the stolen goods before anyone noticed.”Make away with (/’meɪk əˈweɪ wɪð/): To steal or get rid of something
Example: “The corrupt official made away with millions of dollars in public funds.”
6. Practice Exercises
A. Fill in the blanks:
- After their fight, the siblings quickly .
- She likes to stories to entertain her nieces and nephews.
- I need to for missing yesterday’s important meeting.
- Women more than half of the university’s student body.
- It took her an hour to for the party.
- We couldn’t what was written on the old signpost.
- The hikers decided to the nearest town before nightfall.
- I’m not sure what to his cryptic message.
- When we ran out of eggs, we had to with just flour and water.
- They plan to their kitchen next month.
B. Sentence Transformation:
Original: They invented an excuse for being late.
Transformed: They an excuse for being late.Original: The team consists of five members.
Transformed: Five members the team.Original: She applied cosmetics carefully before the interview.
Transformed: She carefully before the interview.Original: We need to compensate for the time we lost during the pandemic.
Transformed: We need to ___ the time we lost during the pandemic.Original: I couldn’t understand what he was saying in the noisy restaurant.
Transformed: I couldn’t what he was saying in the noisy restaurant.Original: Let’s go towards the city center.
Transformed: Let’s the city center.Original: What do you think about this situation?
Transformed: What do you this situation?Original: We’ll have to manage with what we have.
Transformed: We’ll have to with what we have.Original: They renovated their entire house last summer.
Transformed: They their entire house last summer.Original: The burglar left quickly with the stolen jewelry.
Transformed: The burglar with the stolen jewelry.
Answers and Explanations:
A. Fill in the blanks:
- made up
- make up
- make up
- make up
- make up
- make out
- make for
- make of
- make do
- make over
B. Sentence Transformation:
- made up
- make up
- made up
- make up for
- make out
- make for
- make of
- make do
- made over
- made off
Explanations:
- “Made up” means to invent or create a story or excuse.
- “Make up” in this context means to comprise or constitute.
- “Made up” here refers to applying cosmetics.
- “Make up for” means to compensate for something.
- “Make out” means to see, hear, or understand with difficulty.
- “Make for” means to head towards a destination.
- “Make of” is used when asking for an opinion or interpretation.
- “Make do” means to manage with limited resources.
- “Made over” means to renovate or change the appearance of something.
- “Made off” means to leave quickly, often secretly.
7. Memory Tips
To remember the various meanings of “make up” and related phrasal verbs:
Visualization: Imagine a person creating (making up) a colorful world with makeup, representing both the “invent” and “apply cosmetics” meanings.
Mnemonic device: “CRICC” – Create, Reconcile, Invent, Compensate, Cosmetics – represents the main meanings of “make up.”
Context association: Link each meaning to a specific scenario:
- Inventing stories: Think of a child making up a bedtime story.
- Compensating: Visualize making up for lost time by running.
- Reconciling: Picture two people hugging after an argument.
- Comprising: Imagine puzzle pieces making up a whole picture.
- Applying cosmetics: Think of a person applying makeup in front of a mirror.
Practice regularly: Use these phrasal verbs in your daily conversations or writing to reinforce your memory.
8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Confusion with “make out”:
Incorrect: “I couldn’t make up what he was saying.”
Correct: “I couldn’t make out what he was saying.”Tip: Remember, “make out” is for difficulty in perceiving or understanding, while “make up” is for creating or inventing.
Incorrect separation:
Incorrect: “She made her face up.”
Correct: “She made up her face.” OR “She made her face up.”Tip: When using pronouns, always keep “make up” together: “She made it up.”
Misusing prepositions:
Incorrect: “He made up with his mistake.”
Correct: “He made up for his mistake.”Tip: “Make up for” means to compensate, while “make up with” is used for reconciliation.
Formal vs. Informal usage:
Avoid using very casual meanings of “make up” in formal IELTS Writing tasks. For example, prefer “apply cosmetics” over “make up” in an academic essay.Overuse:
While it’s good to demonstrate your knowledge of phrasal verbs, overusing them can make your speech or writing seem unnatural. Use them appropriately and in moderation.
9. Conclusion
Mastering the phrasal verb “make up” and its related expressions can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS test. By understanding its various meanings, correct usage in different contexts, and practicing regularly, you can confidently incorporate this versatile phrasal verb into your English language skills.
Remember to use “make up” and other phrasal verbs naturally in your IELTS Speaking and Writing tasks. This will demonstrate your advanced vocabulary and idiomatic language use, potentially boosting your band score. Continue to practice with the exercises provided and create your own sentences to fully internalize these useful expressions.
For further practice and information on IELTS preparation, you might find these resources helpful:
By consistently applying these strategies and expanding your phrasal verb repertoire, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the linguistic challenges of the IELTS test and improve your overall English proficiency.