Make time means to find time for something when you have very little free time. The verb make is not random: the time doesn't appear by itself, you free it up by pushing other things aside. The phrase is followed by for + noun (make time for sport) or to + verb (make time to call).
Want to remember make time?
Write a sentence — we'll show the mistakes right away and suggest how to say it more naturally.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
make time for + noun/person; make time to + verb; make (the) time
- Even in a busy week, I try to make time for a long walk on Sunday.
- Our team lead always makes time to answer questions from new colleagues.
- If you want to speak more fluently, make time to practise a little every day.
What changed
First versionI'm busy today, but I'll make time for call you tonight.
RevisionI'm busy today, but I'll make time to call you tonight.
An action after make time is introduced with to: make time to call. For goes before a noun or a person: make time for a call, make time for your family. Phrases like time for lunch make it tempting to use for here too, but for cannot go before a verb.
Have time means the time is already free: I have time on Friday. Make time means you have to free it up: I'm busy on Friday, but I'll make time for you. And take time is about a task that needs time: Learning a language takes time.
Your turn
I have no free evenings, so I ___ for the gym by getting up at six.
Show the answer
make time — There are no free evenings, and time for the gym appears only because the person gets up at six. That is exactly make time: finding time at the expense of something else. Have time would mean the time is already free, which contradicts the start of the sentence.
Write about an activity you make time for in a busy schedule. Name the activity and say how you find time for it.
I make time to read in English by getting up thirty minutes earlier on weekdays.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.