Do vs.
Make
English Vocabulary
Do and Make are two verbs which frequently confuse students. Here we will learn
about the difference between Do and Make and when to use each one.
When do you use DO?
DO is used as follows:
1. DO is used when talking about work, jobs or tasks. Note, they do not produce
any physical object.
Have you done your homework?
I have guests visiting tonight so I should start doing the housework now.
I wouldn't like to do that job.
2. DO is used when we refer to activities in general without being specific. In
these cases, we normally use words like thing, something, nothing, anything,
everything etc.
Hurry up! I've got things to do!
Don't just stand there – do something!
Is there anything I can do to help you?
3. We sometimes use DO to replace a verb when the meaning is clear or
obvious. This is more common in informal spoken English:
Do I need to do my hair? (do = brush or comb)
Have you done the dishes yet? (done = washed)
I'll do the kitchen if you do the lawns (do = clean, do = mow)
Remember Do can also be as an auxiliary verb (for making questions in the
present tense - Do you like chocolate?)
When do you use MAKE?
Make is for producing, constructing, creating or building something new.
It is also used to indicate the origin of a product or the materials that are
used to make something.
His wedding ring is made of gold.
The house was made of adobe.
Wine is made from grapes.
The watches were made in Switzerland
We also use Make for producing an action or reaction:
Onions make your eyes water.
You make me happy.
It’s not my fault. My brother made me do it!
You use make after certain nouns about plans and decisions:
make the arrangements,
make a choice
We use Make with nouns about speaking and certain sounds:
make a comment
make a noise
make a speech
We use Make with Food, Drink and Meals:
make a cake
make a cup of tea
make dinner
Compare Do and Make
A: You have to make a cake for Simon.
B: I’ll do it later.
Notice how in the response the verb DO is used. This is because the meaning is
clear and to avoid saying “I’ll make it later.” which could sound repetitive.
Do vs. Make Comparison Chart
Common Expressions with Do and Make
The following expressions are set collocations (combinations of words that
frequently appear together) that you need to learn:
Expressions with DO
The following words are normally used with Do:
a burp laundry
a course nothing
a crossword research
a dance right (the right thing)
a drawing something
a fart the gardening
a favor / favour the housework
a job the ironing
a painting the dishes
a project the rest
a service the shopping
an assignment the washing
anything well
badly work
business wrong (the wrong thing)
chores your best
damage your hair
everything your homework
exercises your job
good your nails
harm your work
Expressions with MAKE
The following words are normally used with MAKE:
a bet a noise an offer
a cake a pass at arrangements
someone
a call breakfast
a plan
a change certain
a point
a choice clear
a prediction
a comment dinner
a profit
a complaint faces
a promise
a confession famous
a reservation
a connection fun of someone
a sandwich
a cup of coffee / love
tea a scene
lunch
a date a sound
inquiries
a decision a speech
peace
a demand a statement
possible
a difference a suggestion
progress
a face advances
money
a fool of alterations
room
yourself
an appointment
sales
a fortune
an
sense
a friend announcement
someone rich
a fuss an attempt
someone smile
a joke an effort
sure
a line an error
trouble
a living an exception
war
a loss an excuse
your bed
a mess an impression
your mind up
a mistake an observation
Exercises:
I. Put in the correct form of 'make' or 'do':
1. How much money does a waitress…………………….?
2. Could you……………………. the laundry today? We have no clean clothes.
3. She spent the evening watching black and white films and……………………. her nails.
4. Did their new business……………………. a profit last year?
5. The teacher……………………. some very positive comments about Susie's work.
6. There's so much paperwork to……………………. I'll be here all night.
7. The CEO of the company……………………. some interesting observations during his
visit to our department.
8. I'd like to……………………...Julie an offer of a job. It would be full time in our office.
9. There was a man sitting on the pier earlier. He was……………………...a painting of
the boats.
10. This lecture is so boring! Let's……………………...an escape during the break and go
to the cafe.
11. William……………………...an excuse to the teacher about why he was late, but she
didn't believe him.
12. Stop talking and……………………. some work!
13. Alison can't come tonight. She's already……………………...plans.
14. I'm going to work all weekend. I really want to……………………...some progress on
this project.
15. Could you please……………………...sure that the money has gone into the correct
bank account?
16. It takes Lizzie an hour a day to……………………...the washing up. She would love to
have a dishwasher.
17. I offered the job to Ian, and said he had until Monday to……………………...his mind
up.
18. In the morning she gets up, has a shower and gets dressed, then
……………………...the bed. After that she goes downstairs and has breakfast.
19. John and Lucy……………………...their way through the crowded streets to their hotel.
20. Graham……………………...really well in the tennis competition. He came second out
of over a hundred people.
II. Choose the correct alternative.
1. I have to ___ a telephone call.
a) do
b) make
2. She didn't ___ her best so she felt sad.
a) do
b) make
3. It was the first time she didn't ___ the beds.
a) do
b) make
4. She was late so she didn't ___ breakfast for them.
a) do
b) make
5. He ___ the assignment, but forgot to bring it to school.
a) did
b) make
6. He has to ___ the housework before he can go.
a) do
b) make
7. There are so many decisions to ___.
a) do
b) make
8. Did you ___ a reservation for tonight?
a) do
b) make
9. Did he ___ the doctor's appointment yet?
a) do
b) make
10. He was busy ___ the food shopping.
a) doing
b) making
11. He ___ a lot of research.
a) does
b) makes
12. The people wanted to ___ peace.
a) do
b) make
13. The children are ___ too much noise.
a) doing
b) making
14. It was a pleasure ___ business with you.
a) doing
b) making
15. I must ___ my homework before I go to bed.
a) do
b) make
16. Why does he always ___ a promise and then break it?
a) do
b) make
17. A famous movie star is going to ___ an appearance here tonight.
a) do
b) make
18. I will ___ the dinner dishes.
a) do
b) make
19. You can ___ the dinner.
a) do
b) make
20. You are going to have to ___ some changes here.
a) do
b) make
21. Can you tell me how much money he ___?
a) does
b) makes
22. Can you ___ me a favor and lend me some money?
a) do
b) make
23. She spends too much time ___ her hair and nails.
a) doing
b) making
24. I think he is trying to ___ trouble for you.
a) do
b) make
25. Hurry up and ___ a decision.
a) do
b) make
III. Choose the correct alternative.
1. She ____ a lot of money.
a) does
b) makes
2. I ____ a few mistakes in the test.
a) did
b) made
c) make
3. I'll ____ dinner.
a) do
b) make
c) Either could be used here.
4. I haven't ____ my homework.
a) done
b) made
c) Either could be used here.
5. I ____ my best.
a) did
b) made
c) Either could be used here.
6. They ____ a deal with the government.
a) did
b) made
c) Either could be used here.
7. It has nothing to ____ with you.
a) do
b) make
8. The company will ____ the necessary arrangements for you.
a) do
b) make
c) Either could be used here.
9. They ____ a mess of the situation.
a) make
b) made
c) do
d) did
10. I ___ sure it was safe.
a) did
b) made
11. They should ____ their duty.
a) do
b) make
12. They ____ a lot of business in China.
a) do
b) make
c) Either could be used here.
13. Are you ____ anything tonight?
a) doing
b) making
c) Either could be used here.
14. The speech he ___ was really boring.
a) did
b) made
c) Either could be used here.
15. Smoking ____ a lot of harm to your health.
a) does
b) makes
c) Either could be used here.
16. They ____ fun of her accent.
a) did
b) made
17. The break ____ me a lot of good.
a) did
b) made
18. Could you____ me a favor?
a) do
b) make
19. Hearing the news _____ my day.
a) did
b) made
20. He ____ her apologize.
a) did
b) made
