Make money means to earn money or get an income. You can use it about a person, a company or a project. To say how the money is earned, add by and an -ing verb: make money by teaching.
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make money + by + -ing; make money from + noun; make a lot of / good money
- She makes extra money by translating technical documents at weekends.
- The hotel makes most of its money from summer tourists.
- Our small online shop didn't make any money in its first year.
What changed
First versionMy sister makes much money as a software developer.
RevisionMy sister makes a lot of money as a software developer.
Much money can look like the natural way to say a large amount, but in positive sentences much sounds formal and unnatural. In everyday speech people say a lot of money and keep much for questions and negatives: She doesn't make much money.
Earn stresses that the money is paid for work, and it goes well with a salary or an amount: earn a salary, earn £30,000 a year. Make money is broader and fits any income, including income from a business or sales: The shop made money on the Christmas sale.
Your turn
The café is always full, but the rent is so high that it doesn't ___ much money.
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make — Money goes with make. People don't say do money, even though make and do are easy to confuse because their meanings overlap.
Write about a side job that you or someone you know has. Say how exactly the person makes money and how much time it takes.
My friend makes money by walking dogs in her neighbourhood, which takes about two hours every evening.
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