Let’s look at the difference between I made a joke from him and the correct expressions I was joking about him and I was making fun of him, which Czech learners sometimes confuse.
If we say I made a joke from him, it sounds unnatural in English because it is a literal translation from Czech. A native speaker might understand the meaning, but they would immediately notice that it is not the correct phrase.
If, on the other hand, we want to say that we were talking about someone in a funny, light-hearted way, the correct expression is I was joking about him. If we want to say that we were laughing at someone in a more negative way, we use I was making fun of him.
W: I made a joke from him because he was late again.
R: I was joking about him because he was late again.
