make into

change something into something different

B2

What does "make sth into sth" mean?

To make something into something else means to deliberately transform it — taking one thing and turning it into something categorically different through effort or intention. The key idea is that a person or group is actively causing the change, not that it happens by itself. You might use it when talking about a building that has been converted into a new type of space, a book that has been adapted into a film, or raw materials that have been crafted into a finished product. It always requires two noun phrases: what you start with and what it becomes. The deliberate, human-driven quality of the transformation is what makes 'make into' feel different from similar expressions.

Examples

How to use it

make + object + into + noun phrase

This is the only possible word order — the object always sits directly after 'make', and the result follows 'into'.

The council made the abandoned railway line into a public walkway.

be made into + noun phrase (passive)

The passive is very common, especially in journalism and entertainment writing when the agent is not the focus.

Her debut novel was made into an award-winning TV series.

make + pronoun + into + noun phrase

When using a pronoun as the object, it replaces the noun and sits between 'make' and 'into' in the usual position.

The director discovered her at a small theatre and made her into a household name.

be going to / will + make + object + into + noun phrase

Future forms work naturally when describing planned or intended transformations.

The developers are going to make the old hospital into a mixed-use residential complex.

Common Collocations

made into a film/moviemade into a museummade into flats/apartmentsmade into a TV seriesmade into a starmade into a hotel

Common Mistakes

Wrong word order

The object must always come directly after 'make', not after 'into'. Placing the object at the end produces an unnatural and incorrect sentence.

✗ They made into a hotel the old factory.
✓ They made the old factory into a hotel.
Confusing 'make into' with 'turn into'

'Make into' always implies a deliberate human effort, while 'turn into' can describe natural or gradual changes that happen without anyone causing them. If no one is actively responsible for the transformation, 'turn into' is the better choice.

✗ The discussion made into a heated argument.
✓ The discussion turned into a heated argument. / They made the spare room into a home office.
Missing the result noun phrase

'Make into' always requires both what is being transformed and what it becomes — you cannot drop either noun phrase and still produce a complete sentence.

✗ They made the warehouse into.
✓ They made the warehouse into a recording studio.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both formal and informal contexts. It is especially common in the passive in journalism and entertainment writing (e.g. 'The book was made into a film').

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'make into' be followed by an adjective instead of a noun?

No — the word after 'into' must be a noun phrase, not an adjective. For example, you cannot say 'They made the room into comfortable'. You would need to say 'They made the room into a comfortable space' or use a different structure like 'They made the room comfortable'.

Is it natural to use 'make into' in the present continuous, like 'They are making the factory into flats'?

It's possible, but it can sound a little awkward unless you are clearly describing an ongoing renovation or project that is actively in progress. Simple tenses — past, present, or future — tend to sound more natural. The present continuous works best when you want to emphasise that the work is happening right now.

Does 'make into' always need a human agent — can a company or an organisation be the subject?

Yes, and organisations, companies, governments, and directors are all very common subjects. What matters is that someone or something is deliberately causing the transformation — 'The city council made the riverbank into a park' works perfectly. The agent just needs to represent intentional action.

Is the passive form of 'make into' common in everyday English?

Very common, especially in entertainment and news contexts. Phrases like 'The book was made into a film' or 'The building was made into luxury apartments' appear frequently in journalism. The passive is particularly useful when the person who caused the transformation is unknown, obvious, or simply less important than the result.

Can I use 'make into' when talking about food or ingredients?

Yes — it works well for describing how raw materials or ingredients are transformed into a finished product. For example, 'The grapes were made into a surprisingly good wine' or 'She made the leftover bread into a savoury pudding' are both natural uses.

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