3.45 nouns used with 'make'

Many nouns can be used after 'make'.

The delexical structures using a lot of these nouns are closely related to reporting structures. There is usually a related verb which can be used followed by a reported clause.

• She made a remark about the weather.
• Allen remarked that at times he thought he was back in America.
• Now and then she makes a comment on something.
• Henry Cecil commented that the ground was too firm.
• I haven't made a full confession sir.
• Fox confessed that he had stolen the money.
• The cricketers made a public protest against apartheid.
• She was greeted by supporters protesting that Reagan had betrayed his allies.
• I made a secret signal to him.
• The Bank of England signalled that there would be no change in interest rates.
• You made the right decision.
• One candidate resigned, deciding that banking was not for her.

Here is a list of nouns which are used after 'make' and have a related reporting verb:

• arrangement, claim, comment, confession, decision, promise, protest, remark, signal, suggestion

Other nouns used with 'make' express speech actions other than reports, or describe change, results, effort, and so on.

• I'll make some enquiries for you.
• They agreed to make a few minor changes.
• McEnroe was desperate to make one last big effort to win Wimbledon again.
• He made an attempt to calm down.
• It was put to him that he was making a serious charge against Mrs Thatcher.

Here is a list of other nouns which are used after 'make':

• appeal, attempt, change, charge, contribution, effort, enquiry, impression, noise, point, progress, recovery, sound, speech, start, success

Note that, unlike the other nouns in this list, 'progress' is uncountable.