Skip to main content

The verb to make · Conjugation

Past Simple of make

The answer: made

A2

A finished action at a definite time in the past.

This page for:

Quick answer

The Past Simple of the verb to make is made.

Example: She made a chocolate cake.

Full conjugation in the Past Simple

PronounForm
Imade
Youmade
He / She / Itmade
Wemade
You (pl.)made
Theymade

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Maked ❌

Make is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is made, never maked. Irregular verbs do not take -ed: learn their past forms by heart.

2. I didn't made it ❌

After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form: I didn't make any mistakes (correct), not I didn't made any mistakes. The past is already in did.

3. She has make dinner ❌

Like have / had / had, make has the same form for the Past Simple and the past participle: made. I made it yesterday (Past Simple). She has made dinner (Present Perfect).

Practice quiz

Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank

Complete the sentence: She _____ a chocolate cake yesterday.

Going further

The English contest tests the Past Simple of make in real sentences

Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.

Register my students

5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary

Practise on PLAYMaster the Past Simple of make when you speak, not just on paper

The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.

Practise the Past Simple of make on PLAY

Free · No sign-up · 3 minutes

For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of make, and you follow each student

The Academy has self-marking activities on this form, with a dashboard for each student: you see at a glance who is falling behind.

Discover the Academy

30-day free trial · No bank card needed

Frequently asked questions

What is the past tense of make?+

The Past Simple of make is made. It is the same for every person: I made, you made, he made. The past participle is also made.

Is it I made a cake or I have made a cake?+

Both are correct. I made a cake yesterday is the Past Simple: a finished action at a past time. I have made a cake is the Present Perfect: the cake is ready now. Use make for creating things and do for activities.

What is the difference between made and done?+

Made is the past participle of make (to create). Done is the past participle of do (to carry out an activity). I have made a cake. I have done my homework.

Is it didn't make or didn't made?+

Say didn't make: I didn't make a mistake. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (make, not made).

Is it made or maked?+

It is made (said /meɪd/). Make is an irregular verb, so its Past Simple does not follow the -ed rule. Never say maked.

Related pages: make Past Simple

Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.

Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →

Keep learning

More forms of the verb to make are coming soon.