Meaning & use
makes a choice
Last updated
“makes a choice” is a form of “make a choice”.
Meaning
phraseidiom
Decides between two or more possibilities; selects one option.
Grammar: A fixed phrase used with a singular subject (he, she, it, or a singular noun). For plural or I/you subjects, use 'make a choice'.
Patterns
- makes a choice between something
- makes a choice about something
- makes a choice to do something
She makes a choice between the two job offers every morning.
The committee makes a choice about the new policy next week.
He makes a choice to study abroad despite the cost.
Word forms
| base form | make a choice |
|---|---|
| past tense | made a choice |
| past participle | made a choice |
| -ing form | making a choice |
Common combinations
- make a choice between
- You need to make a choice between the red and the blue one.
- make a choice about
- They made a choice about where to live.
- make a difficult choice
- Leaving home was a difficult choice to make.
- make a choice to do something
- She made a choice to forgive him.
Synonyms and how they differ
- decide
- More general and often used without 'between'; 'decide' focuses on the act of making up your mind, while 'make a choice' emphasizes selecting from options.
- select
- More formal and often used for choosing from a group of things or people; 'select' often implies a careful or official choice.
- opt
- Used with 'for' or 'to do'; 'opt' is more formal and suggests a preference among alternatives.
Word family
Commonly confused: makes a choice or choose?
makes a choice vs choose
A verb meaning to pick one thing from several; 'make a choice' is a phrase with a similar meaning but different grammar. You 'choose' something, but you 'make a choice' between things.
Practice
Complete the sentence: 'Every time he ____, he thinks carefully.'
Choose one answer.
The subject 'he' is third-person singular, so the verb must be 'makes'. 'Make' would be used with I, you, we, or they. 'Making' needs an auxiliary verb, and 'made' is past tense but the sentence is present.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “makes a choice”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.