[Grammar] I will make him a president.

[wotcha]

1. I will make him a president.

2. I will make him be a president.

3. I will make him to be a president.

4. I will make him as a president.

5. I will make a president of him.


If I mean "I will do my best to help him be a president" which of the sentences

are most appropriate and grammatical?

 

[Gillnetter]

1. I will make him a president.

2. I will make him be a president.

3. I will make him to be a president.

4. I will make him as a president.

5. I will make a president of him.


If I mean "I will do my best to help him be a president" which of the sentences

are most appropriate and grammatical?

Without going into your examples, I will point out that "make" carries the notion of force. "I will make you work all day" equates to, "I will force you to work all day". If you really want to imply that your help is part of the procedure, try something like, "I will help him become President".

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Make" also has the meaning of "create, maunfacture, craft, etc." In tha sense, a powerful person, such as a Board Chairman, can make someone president. In that sense, sentences 1 and 5 are correct. Sentences 3 and 4 are not very good. Sentence 2 conveys the sense of force mentioned earlier and would be unusual.

 

[5jj]

My opinion:

1. I will make him a president. - I will arrange matters so that he becomes a president (of a company or, if I have sufficient power and influence), of a country.

2. I will make him be a president. I will force him to be a president (of a company or country).

3. I will make him to be a president. Not natural.

4. I will make him as a president. Not natural.

5. I will make a president of him. I will ensure that he has the qualities that enable him to be a real (effective, respected, successful) president. He may or may not be a president at the moment.