Meaning
To develop new friendly relationships with people.
Cultural Background
Americans are often very open to 'making friends' quickly, even with strangers in line at a coffee shop. British people might take longer to 'make friends,' often requiring a shared activity like a pub visit or a club. In Japan, the process of 'making friends' is often tied to group membership, such as school clubs or company teams. Friendships are often formed through deep, long-term connections, so 'making friends' can be a slower, more intentional process.
Plural is Key
Always use 'friends' in the plural. You are joining a group of people.
Don't use for family
You don't 'make friends' with your parents or siblings; you already have a relationship with them.
Meaning
To develop new friendly relationships with people.
Plural is Key
Always use 'friends' in the plural. You are joining a group of people.
Don't use for family
You don't 'make friends' with your parents or siblings; you already have a relationship with them.
Use 'with'
When you mention the person, use 'make friends with [name]'.
Small Talk
Making friends often starts with small talk about the weather or shared interests.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase.
I moved to a new city and I am trying to ____ ____.
The correct collocation is 'make friends'.
Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
Which sentence is correct?
The phrase always uses the plural 'friends'.
Match the situation to the most natural response.
Situation: You are lonely in a new town.
This is the standard way to describe the action.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'How do you know so many people?' B: 'I'm good at ____ ____.'
The phrase 'making friends' fits the context of knowing many people.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesI moved to a new city and I am trying to ____ ____.
The correct collocation is 'make friends'.
Which sentence is correct?
The phrase always uses the plural 'friends'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
This is the standard way to describe the action.
A: 'How do you know so many people?' B: 'I'm good at ____ ____.'
The phrase 'making friends' fits the context of knowing many people.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsWhile grammatically possible, it is much less common than 'I made friends'. Use the plural.
No, it is neutral and can be used in almost any situation.
'Meet people' is just the first step; 'make friends' implies a deeper connection.
You can, but 'building professional relationships' sounds more professional.
It's a common L1 interference. Remember, we 'make' new things, and friends are new connections.
It's okay, but be careful. It might sound like you are trying to get special treatment.
No, it almost always refers to platonic friendships.
You say 'hacer amigos'.
You can say 'I find it hard to make friends' to explain your situation.
Yes! 'I made friends with the neighbor's dog' is very common.
People often say 'I'm into making friends' to mean they are social.
The past tense is 'made friends'.
Related Phrases
make friends with
specialized formTo specifically target someone for friendship.
strike up a friendship
similarTo start a friendship quickly.
get to know
builds onThe process of learning about someone.
hit it off
similarTo get along immediately.
