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Session 4
Vocabulary: 10 uses of 'make'
Sit back and enjoy the story of Frankenstein and learn ten different ways to use the word 'make'
Activity 1
Frankenstein part one - 10 uses of 'make'
A scary story about a scientist who makes a monster that he can't control
The English word make has many meanings and uses. In this session, we bring you BBC Learning English's own version of the story of Frankenstein - and we've found many different ways to use the word make in it.
To do
As you watch part one of the story, listen out for the different uses of the word make - and decide whether this summary of the story is correct or wrong:
- Victor creates two monsters who are destroying humanity
Watch the video and complete the activity

Mariam
Hello, my name's Mariam. Today's story is a little scary and involves a scientist who makes a monster that he can't control. Any ideas what this story might be? Let's find out.
The man in this story is called Victor Frankenstein. As a boy he loved science and went on to study it at university. He has made a name for himself by doing impressive experiments - but his biggest idea is to bring a dead body to life. Using a mixture of chemistry, alchemy and electricity he finally succeeds and a creature – a monster - rises from the dead.
But the consequences of creating such a creature makes life very hard for Victor. His initial success turns to guilt and he starts to worry about who will look after this creature. To make matters worse, he almost goes mad and, unable to deal with the situation, he runs away, leaving the monster to roam freely around the countryside.
Then Victor gets terrible news that his younger brother, William, has been murdered. Nobody can catch the suspect but Victor assumes that the murderer is his self-created monster, but he can't tell anyone so he makes for the mountains to hide. It's here he meets the monster he's created. The monster - who by now can read and understand language – confesses to the crime but he wants to tell Victor his life story.
The monster tells Victor he is lonely and being a strange-looking creature, nobody accepts him. He tells Victor that he is angry for creating him and has killed his younger brother out of revenge. Victor is shocked but the monster then demands that he creates a female companion. Victor makes a start on creating monster number two but then thinks this would bring destruction to humanity, so he destroys it. The monster isn't happy.
I'll leave the story there for now. Join me later to see what happens to the monster and its creator, Victor Frankenstein. See you soon.
To do
How was that? The summary wasn't quite correct: Victor has only created one monster - he starts creating a second one, but realises it would be a bad idea and so he destroys it.
Now, have a go at our quiz to check you know the first 6 uses of make.
Frankenstein - the story so far...
5 Questions
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with make. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with make. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
Victor has 'made a name for himself' by doing impressive experiments.Question 1 of 5
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with make. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
The creature 'makes life hard' for Victor.Question 2 of 5
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with make. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
What does 'to make matters worse' mean?Question 3 of 5
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with make. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
What's the meaning of 'makes for the mountains'?Question 4 of 5
Help
Activity
Let's check your understanding of the story - and the words and phrases with make. Decide whether each statement about the story is true or false. Look at the vocabulary box if you need help.
Hint
What does 'make a start' mean?Question 5 of 5
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
Next
It's time to find out what happens next - and to learn some more uses of make! See you on the next page.
Session Vocabulary
makes (A1)
createshas made a name for himself (C2)
has become well-known for somethingmakes (B1)
causes something to happento make matters worse (B2)
to cause a bad situation to get even worsemakes for (B2)
moves towardsmakes a start (C2)
begins to do something