The Great Make vs Do Confusion (Sorted)
Make and Do are the most confusing verb pair in English. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes. The secret? Learn the collocations (word partnerships) and stop trying to translate from your language!
The Basic Logic:
MAKE = creating, producing, constructing something
DO = performing, completing, carrying out activities
But honestly, just memorize the common ones!
MAKE Collocations (Creating & Producing)
| Category | Make + Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Food & Drink | make breakfast/lunch/dinner | "I'll make dinner tonight." |
| Food & Drink | make coffee/tea | "Can you make some tea– |
| Communication | make a phone call | "I need to make a quick call." |
| Communication | make a speech | "The CEO will make a speech." |
| Decisions | make a decision | "We need to make a decision." |
| Decisions | make a choice | "You have to make a choice." |
| Money | make money | "How do you make money– |
| Money | make a profit | "The company made a profit." |
| Sounds | make noise | "Don't make so much noise!" |
| Plans | make plans | "Let's make plans for tonight." |
DO Collocations (Activities & Tasks)
| Category | Do + Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Housework | do the washing/cleaning | "I need to do the washing." |
| Housework | do the dishes | "Can you do the dishes– |
| Work/Study | do homework | "I have to do my homework." |
| Work/Study | do research | "She's doing research on cancer." |
| Work/Study | do a job | "He does a good job." |
| Exercise | do exercise | "I do exercise every morning." |
| Exercise | do yoga/pilates | "She does yoga twice a week." |
| Business | do business | "We do business with China." |
| Favors | do someone a favor | "Can you do me a favor– |
| Damage | do damage | "The storm did a lot of damage." |
Tricky Ones (The Ones That Catch Everyone)
Make vs Do - The Confusing Pairs:
- Make the bed (arrange the sheets) vs Do the laundry (wash clothes)
- Make an effort (try hard) vs Do your best (try as hard as possible)
- Make a mistake (create an error) vs Do something wrong (perform incorrectly)
- Make progress (improve) vs Do well (perform successfully)
Fixed Expressions (Just Memorize These)
MAKE expressions:
- Make sense - "This doesn't make sense."
- Make sure - "Make sure you lock the door."
- Make time - "I'll make time for you."
- Make friends - "It's easy to make friends here."
- Make fun of - "Don't make fun of him."
DO expressions:
- Do good/harm - "Exercise does you good."
- Do without - "I can do without coffee."
- Do your hair - "I need to do my hair."
- Do the shopping - "I'll do the shopping later."
- Do nothing - "I did nothing all day."
Practice Exercises (Make or Do?)
Exercise 1: Choose Make or Do
1. I need to a phone call.
2. Can you the dishes?
3. She wants to friends.
4. I have to my homework.
5. Let's dinner together.
Exercise 2: Complete the Collocations
1. sure you bring your passport.
2. I need to some research.
3. Can you some coffee?
4. She does every morning.
5. We need to a decision.
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