Today's post will help you understand the differences between the verbs DO and MAKE.
DO and MAKE are frequently confused by ESL learners. For example, Do or make breakfast? ...exercise? ...a mistake? It sounds hard to choose between them, but after reading this, you'll be ready to go!
DO
Think of DO as a verb for activities in general. These activities could involve action, obligation, or a repetitive chore. There are some frequent collocations (phrases, idioms) that'll help you learn faster:
DO + HOUSEWORK
do laundry
do the shopping
do the cooking
do the dishes
exception, make the bed
DO + WORK/STUDY
do homework
do a course
do some reading
do business
DO + TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY
do exercise
do your makeup
do your hair
do your nails
MAKE
When you create or produce something, use MAKE. We are usually referring to the result rather than the action itself. Just as with DO, here are a few collocations for faster learning:
MAKE + COMMUNICATION
make a comment
make a joke
make a mistake
make a promise
MAKE + FOOD
make breakfast
make a cake
make dinner
make coffee/tea
MAKE + PLAN
make a choice
make a plan
make a list
make progress
PRACTICE
Basically, DO refers to the action itself while MAKE to the result. Are you ready to try and see if you understand better now? Here are some online exercises:
Would you like to keep reading about how to improve your English? Check out my other posts.