Grammar fix
make up for
to do something to correct a bad situation
to do something good or give something to balance out a mistake, loss, or something bad that happened.
phrasal verbB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
I brought flowers to make up for forgetting her birthday.
If I miss a class, I always try to make up for it by studying extra at home.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I'll make up my mistake.
Say: I'll make up for my mistake.
'Make up FOR' something — without 'for' it means invent.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Make up for' is the everyday phrase for compensating; 'compensate for' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
make up for + shortfall
- lost time
- it
- the mistake
- missing it