Are these kinds of sentences correct? [closed]
Today when I was thinking these sentences came to my mind. I want to know whether these are gramatically correct or not.
- The mechanic can make it be of no use.
- John can make this book be like an encyclopedia.
Any help is appreciated.
We can use make meaning "force someone (to do something)". In the active voice, we use it with an infinitive without to. Building your sentences, you are trying to use "make" like that. However, the verb you are using after "make" is the verb to be. In this case just omit be altogether:
The mechanic can make it of use / The mechanic can make it no use.
John can make this book an encyclopedia. (I don't see the reason why you must use "like" here)
But if the verb after "make" were not the verb to be, you'd have to use it. For example:
The boss made me work an extra day.
The song makes me cry.