What Does โMake towards sthโ Mean?
โMake towards sthโ means to move in the direction of something or to head toward a specific goal or place.
Introduction
The phrase โmake towards sthโ is a common phrasal verb in English that describes movement or progress in the direction of something. Whether you are physically moving toward a location or figuratively moving toward a goal, this expression fits well. Understanding the โmake towards sth meaningโ helps learners describe actions clearly and naturally. This phrase is useful in both everyday conversations and formal contexts, making it a versatile part of your English vocabulary.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: make towards something
- Type: Intransitive (usually followed by a preposition and object)
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: Move or head in the direction of something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โMake towards sthโ is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate โmakeโ and โtowardsโ with the object. The structure is:
- Subject + make + towards + object
- Example: She made towards the exit quickly.
The object (something) always follows the preposition โtowards.โ
How to Use โMake towards sthโ?
You use โmake towards sthโ when you want to describe moving physically or metaphorically in the direction of a place, person, or goal. It often implies intentional movement or progress. For example, you can say โmake towards the doorโ to describe someone walking to the door, or โmake towards successโ to describe working hard to achieve success.
Examples
Imagine you are watching someone leave a room. You could say, โHe made towards the door quietly.โ Here are more examples of โmake towards sth in a sentenceโ:
- After the meeting, she made towards the parking lot.
- The boat made towards the shore despite the strong wind.
- They made towards the goal with determination and hope.
- When the alarm rang, everyone made towards the emergency exit.
- The company is making towards a greener future by using renewable energy.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the order or omit โtowards,โ which changes the meaning or makes the sentence incorrect. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: She made the door towards.
- Correct: She made towards the door.
- Incorrect: They made towards quickly.
- Correct: They made quickly towards the exit.
Remember, โtowardsโ must always follow โmake,โ and the object must come after โtowards.โ
Differences / Synonyms
โMake towards sthโ is similar to โhead towards,โ โmove towards,โ and โgo towards.โ However, โmake towardsโ often sounds a bit more formal or descriptive, especially in writing. โHead towardsโ is more common in spoken English.
- Make towards: Formal or descriptive, often used in narratives.
- Head towards: Casual, common in everyday speech.
- Move towards: Neutral, can be physical or figurative.
- Go towards: Simple and widely used.
For example, โHe made towards the exitโ and โHe headed towards the exitโ mean the same but differ slightly in tone.
Common Collocations
Here are some common objects used with โmake towardsโ and their meanings:
- Make towards the door: Move in the direction of the door.
- Make towards the exit: Head for the exit.
- Make towards the shore: Move toward the land from water.
- Make towards a goal: Work or move in the direction of achieving a goal.
- Make towards success: Progress to achieve success.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of make towards sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โmake towards sthโ:
Anna: The movie just ended. Should we leave now?
Ben: Yes, letโs make towards the exit before it gets crowded.
Anna: Good idea. I donโt want to get stuck in the crowd.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โmake towardsโ:
- After the concert, they _______ the parking lot quickly.
- We should _______ the nearest shelter before the storm arrives.
- She _______ success after years of hard work.
- The hikers _______ the mountain peak at dawn.
FAQs
- What does โmake towards sthโ mean? It means to move or head in the direction of something.
- Is โmake towards sthโ formal or informal? It is more formal or descriptive but can be used in everyday English.
- Can โmake towardsโ be separated? No, the verb and preposition must stay together with the object after โtowards.โ
- What are synonyms of โmake towards sthโ? Head towards, move towards, go towards.
- Can โmake towardsโ be used figuratively? Yes, it can describe progress toward goals or achievements.
