make them walk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make them walk" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are instructing or compelling someone to walk, either literally or metaphorically. Example: "To improve their fitness, the coach decided to make them walk for at least an hour every day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Make them walk – it's busy enough without Otto, his 65 litre rucksack and his enormous map.

The Telegraph

Were that possible, people paralysed by spinal injuries could have surgery to make them walk again.

The Guardian

Walter would bring the Canadas together and, with his arms all wide, would make them walk up the road.

The New York Times - Arts

They are not a flat surface, and they move, so it's difficult not to knock them together and hard to make them walk in a straight line".

The New York Times

"It took me two years to learn how to make them walk, and I was still making mistakes," said Mr. Weil of his own apprenticeship.

The New York Times

When you want to consult your residents, do you make them walk through the wind and rain on a winter evening to a draughty community centre?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

"I grew up obsessed with gung-ho World War II films," he said, adding that with "The Tuskegee Airmen" he "envisioned making movies like a black 'The Right Stuff.' " "For the play it was important for me to humanize the men, not make them walking saints," he said.

The New York Times

More-or-less just to see if it made them walk funny.

The Guardian

We created three models of the cockroach at cockroach scale and built control systems that made them walk and run.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Scientists measure animals' metabolic rates by making them walk on treadmills and measuring the oxygen they gulp.

The Guardian

Following a Willem II loss, Co Adriaanse was once so peeved that he made them walk 20km to the stadium, complete a brutal training session and walk back.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make them walk", ensure the context clarifies whether it's a literal instruction, a forced action, or a metaphorical encouragement. Proper context avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "they were made to walk" when "we made them walk" provides a more direct and impactful statement. Active voice enhances clarity and responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make them walk" functions primarily as a causative construction, where "make" serves as the causative verb, indicating that someone or something is causing others to perform the action of walking. This aligns with Ludwig's examples, showing its role in instructing or compelling action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make them walk" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that functions as a causative construction. It's used to describe compelling, causing, or instructing someone to walk. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage across various contexts, from News & Media to Wiki sources. While the phrase is generally neutral in tone, the specific context dictates the formality and intent. Be mindful of clarity and active voice when employing this phrase to ensure the intended meaning is effectively communicated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

force them to walk

Emphasizes compulsion or lack of choice.

compel them to walk

Implies authority or a strong reason behind the command.

cause them to walk

Focuses on the act of causing the walking, without necessarily implying force.

get them to walk

A more casual way of saying "make them walk".

have them walk

Suggests arrangement or instruction.

require them to walk

Implies a rule or requirement.

order them to walk

Highlights a direct command.

induce them to walk

Suggests persuasion or encouragement.

trick them into walking

Suggests deception to make them walk.

encourage them to walk

Focuses on providing support and motivation for walking.

FAQs

How can I use "make them walk" in a sentence?

You can use "make them walk" to describe forcing someone to walk, encouraging someone to walk, or causing someone to walk. For example, "The sergeant decided to make them walk the rest of the way", or "The physical therapist worked to make them walk again after the surgery".

What are some alternatives to "make them walk"?

Alternatives include "force them to walk", "compel them to walk", or "cause them to walk", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "made them to walk" instead of "make them walk"?

No, "made them to walk" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "make them walk", as "make" takes a bare infinitive (infinitive without 'to').

What's the difference between "make them walk" and "let them walk"?

"Make them walk" implies some level of enforcement or cause, while "let them walk" implies permission or allowance. "Make" suggests they might not have walked otherwise, whereas "let" suggests they had the option.