Grammar fix
make friends
form friendships
to start having a friendly relationship with someone; to become friends with new people
collocationB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
It's not always easy to make friends when you move to a new city.
I think it's important to join clubs or activities if you want to make friends quickly in a new place.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I want to make new friendships.
Say: I want to make new friends.
You make FRIENDS, not 'make friendships'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
Natives 'make friends'; 'establish friendships' is sociology-speak.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
make friends
- make
- easily
- make friends with
- new friends