Let and Make

Let

Subject + let + object + bare infinitive (infinitive without 'to')

'Let' may mean 'allow' or 'give permission':

• Marcus's mother let him use her car.
• Our boss let us leave early.

'Let' also means 'allow' in the sense of making something possible:

• This student card lets you book discount flights.
• You can buy a pass which lets you visit all the art galleries more cheaply.

'Let's' followed by the infinitive is a common way of making a suggestion:

• Let's go to the cinema tonight.
• Let's get some coffee.

Although 'let's' is a contraction of 'let us', the full form is not used in this context. 'Let' does not occur in the passive.

Make

Subject + make + object + bare infinitive (infinitive without 'to')

'Make' may mean 'compel someone to do something they do not wish to do':

• His mother made him clean his room.
• The teacher made us study very hard.

It also means 'cause someone to do something', where the outcome may be welcome or unwelcome:

• That film made me cry.
• My brother often makes me laugh.

In the passive, 'make' takes the infinitive with 'to' rather than the bare infinitive:

• She was made to work on Saturday, even though she hated working at weekends.

The pattern subject + make + object + adjective is also available. It means 'cause the object to be as the adjective describes', for good or ill:

• Her story made me really happy.
• The traffic jam made us late.

Choosing 'let' or 'make'

'Let' is used where the sense is 'allow'. The action is normally one the person wishes to perform:

• My boss let me leave early (I wanted to leave early, and the boss gave me permission).

'Make' is used where the sense is 'compel' or 'cause'. The action is often one the person would rather avoid:

• My boss made me stay late (I didn't want to stay, but I had to).

Where 'make' means 'cause', the outcome may be welcome or unwelcome:

• My brother made me laugh

Laughing is welcome enough, but it is not something my brother gave me permission to do. It is something he brought about.

Only 'make + object + adjective' is possible here. 'Let' cannot be used in this pattern.