PRO TIP
MADE OF is used to describe the basic general material or physical characteristics of something. It does not describe a process, assembly, or change.
Examples:
“The chair is made of wood”
“The door is made of metal”
MADE FROM is used to describe the materials used to make something; these materials are changed, assembled, or processed in some way.
Examples:
“The chair is made from 3 pieces of recycled wood and a flat piece of metal”
(different materials were processed and assembled to make the chair)
“Cheese is made from milk”
(the milk was changed or processed to make cheese)
Check your understanding!
Read the questions and answer options below. Think carefully about the best answer.
Then, click the bar for correct answers and short explanation.
1. Architectural concrete and structural concrete are both_________________ portland cement, aggregate, and water, but they have entirely different concrete mix designs.
made of
made from
Answer: B
MADE FROM (materials were processed and mixed)
2. Flashing may be_________________sheet metal, copper, lead, stainless steel, galvanized steel, or aluminum, plastic, or composite materials.
made of
made from
Answer: B
MADE FROM (materials were processed and mixed)
3. Garden retaining walls are generally_________________small units of stone, masonry, or wood.
made of
made from
Answer: B
MADE FROM (walls are assembled)
4. Tempered Glass is_________________ plate glass by reheating and sudden cooling and is 3 to 5 times stronger than plate glass.
made of
made from
Answer: B
MADE FROM (materials were processed)
5. The bulb of halogen lamps is usually_________________quartz to resist high internal temperatures.
made of
made from
Answer: A
MADE OF (describes the properties, not the process)
6. Thresholds in doorways that lead to rooms with a ceramic tile floor are often_________________marble or another stone.
made of
made from
Answer: A
MADE OF (describes the properties, not the process)
