The difference between do and make in English can be quite tricky. Watch this video and get more clarity on this topic. The video is a sample from one of the Live-English Club sessions.
A Video Summary about Do and Make
A few explanations about Do and Make
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DO AND MAKE
Both “do” and “make” are common verbs in English that can cause confusion, but they have distinct uses. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand the difference:
Make
- Use “make” when you’re talking about creating something tangible or achieving a specific outcome. This could be a physical object, a sound, or even a situation.
- Examples:
- I’m making a sandwich for lunch. (Creating food)
- She makes beautiful paintings. (Creating art)
- He made a funny face. (Creating an expression)
- We can make a difference. (Achieving a result)
Do
- Use “do” for general actions, tasks, or obligations. It often refers to activities you perform routinely or complete as part of a job or chore.
- Examples:
- I do my homework every night. (Routine task)
- What do you do for a living? (Job)
- Do the dishes after dinner. (Chore)
- We can do some exercise later. (General action)
Here are some additional points to keep in mind:
- Result vs. Process: “Make” often focuses on the resulting product, whereas “do” emphasizes the action itself.
- Example: We made cookies. (Focuses on the cookies) vs. We are doing some baking. (Focuses on the activity)
- Phrasal Verbs: Both verbs form many phrasal verbs with different meanings. “Make up” (invent), “make a decision” (choose), “do up” (button), “do without” (manage).
As you can see, there can be some overlap, and idioms or phrasal verbs may use them differently. If you’re unsure, it’s always helpful to consult a dictionary or thesaurus, or to ask your Live English Teacher.
EXPRESSIONS WITH DO AND MAKE
Expressions with “Do”
General Actions:
- Do the dishes
- Do laundry
- Do your homework
- Do your hair/makeup/nails
- Do some exercise
- Do some shopping
- Do the grocery shopping
- Do the cleaning
- Do the vacuuming
- Do the ironing
- Do the math
- Do your best
- Do your duty
- Do something nice
- Do something crazy
- Do your research
Tasks and Chores:
- Do the errands
- Do the paperwork
- Do the accounts
- Do some writing/reading/letter-writing
- Do a project
- Do a test/exam/assignment
- Do business
- Do time (in prison)
- Do some good/harm/damage
Phrases and Idioms:
- Do away with (eliminate)
- Do without (manage)
- Do justice to (give something its due)
- Do wonders for (improve greatly)
- Do your thing (act naturally)
- Do the trick (work successfully)
- Do the right thing (behave morally)
- Do one’s part (contribute)
- Do me a favor (ask for help)
- Do unto others… (treat others as you want to be treated)
- To do or not to do (a dilemma)
- Make do (cope with limited resources)
Expressions with “Make”
Creating Something:
- Make a cake/sandwich/meal
- Make a painting/sculpture/piece of art
- Make a fire
- Make a decision/choice
- Make a plan
- Make a reservation/appointment/booking
- Make a phone call
- Make a speech/presentation
- Make a suggestion/comment/remark/complaint
- Make a difference
- Make a mess
- Make a fool of yourself
- Make a fortune/profit
Other Uses:
- Make a sound
- Make a move (take action)
- Make amends (apologize and fix things)
- Make an appearance (show up)
- Make an effort (try hard)
- Make a living (earn money)
- Make progress (move forward)
- Make sense (be logical)
- Make time for something (allocate time)
- Make it (succeed)
- Make peace with something (accept it)
Phrases and Idioms:
- Make a break for it (escape)
- Make a scene (cause a commotion)
- Make up a story (invent)
- Make up your mind (decide)
- Make haste (hurry)
- Make believe (pretend)
- Make waves (cause trouble)
- Make your mark (leave a lasting impression)
- Break even (make neither profit nor loss)
Exercises About Do and Make
Exercise 1: expressions using do and make
Exercise 2: matching pairs, expressions with do and make
Exercise 3: complete the sentences with do or make
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