DIFFERENCES BETWEEN "DO" AND "MAKE" (EXTENSION)
It can be hard to decide when to use 'make' or 'do' in English. Here's some
help.
1: We use 'make' when we create or construct something. For example:
1: We use 'make' when we create or construct something. For example:
She made a cake.
I've made us some coffee.
Did you really make those trousers?
2: We use 'do' for
general activities. In this case, 'do' is often used with 'something',
'nothing', 'anything' or 'everything':
What did you do at the weekend?
I didn't do anything yesterday.
She's fed up with doing everything herself. She needs some help.
Are you doing anything interesting during the holidays?
NOTE: 'What do you do?' means 'what's your job?'
NOTE: 'What do you do?' means 'what's your job?'
3: There are many, many fixed expressions with 'make' and 'do'. Unfortunately, they don't really follow any useful rules, so you have to learn them. Sorry!
Here's a list:
DO:
30 mph (miles per hour)
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Many people do more than 30 mph through this town. It's very dangerous.
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badly
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She did very badly on the exam, so she'll have to retake it.
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your best
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Don't worry about getting everything correct. Just do your best.
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business
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It's been a pleasure doing business with you.
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chores
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I have to go home and do some chores this afternoon.
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a course
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John has decided to do a course in computing this autumn.
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a crossword
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She sat on the sofa, doing a crossword and drinking tea.
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damage
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The storm has done a lot of damage to the house.
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the dishes / the washing up
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I really hate doing the dishes. I'm hoping to buy a dishwasher this year.
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a drawing
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The little boy spent hours doing a drawing.
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your duty
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He has to do his duty and look after his elderly parents.
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an exam
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I have to do three exams and write a huge essay this term.
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exercise
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Julie likes doing exercise, especially running.
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an exercise
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The teacher asked us to do a lot of grammar exercises over the holidays
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someone a favour
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My friend did me a huge favour and lent me some money.
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the gardening
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David often spends Sunday afternoons doing gardening.
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good
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She helps homeless people and tries to do good.
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you good
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You should eat your vegetables. They'll
do you good!
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your hair
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Allie spends ages doing her hair in the morning.
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harm
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I spilt coffee on my suit and tried to clean it, but I did more harm than
good. It looks even worse now!
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homework
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Have you finished doing your homework?
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housework
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Let's do the housework quickly this morning, then we can go out for
lunch.
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the ironing
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My mother listens to the radio while she does the ironing.
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a job
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I think the students did a great job with this essay. It's excellent.
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the laundry / the washing
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He did the laundry, cleaned the house, and made dinner.
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your nails
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Jenny likes to do her nails each week.
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a painting
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There was an old man sitting on the bank of the river, doing a painting.
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paperwork
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Does everybody hate doing paperwork?
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research
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I'm doing some research for my thesis at the moment.
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the shopping
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I'll do the shopping tomorrow morning. We need milk, bread, pasta and
bananas.
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time (= be in prison)
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He broke into a bank, was caught by the police, and now he's doing time.
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well
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My sister is doing well in her new job.
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work
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Unfortunately, Lucy does a lot of work at the weekends.
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your worst
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I've bought all new winter clothes:– boots, a coat
and a very warm hat. Weather, do your worst!
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MAKE:
amends
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I'm so sorry that I upset you. How can I make amends?
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an appointment
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She had toothache, so she made an appointment with the dentist for the
following day.
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arrangements
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Okay, so we're going to go on holiday in September. Let's make some
arrangements. I'll find a hotel, and you can look at flights.
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an attempt
|
I know we might not catch the plane, but let's at least make an attempt
to be on time.
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believe
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The children's favourite game is to make believe that they are kings and
queens from long ago.
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certain
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I think the café opens at six, but let's make certain. I don't want to be
standing in the street waiting!
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a change
|
I've made some changes to the document.
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a choice
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Which job are you going to take? You need to make a choice.
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a comment
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My mother made a comment about my shoes.
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a complaint
|
The food took so long to arrive that Julie made a complaint to the
manager.
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a confession
|
I'd like to make a confession. I was the one who ate the last of the
chocolate.
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a date
|
I'd love to see you soon. How about if we make a date for next week?
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a decision
|
I've made my decision. I'm going to go back to university.
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a difference
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Going to the gym has really made a difference to how I feel.
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a discovery
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When John was last in London he made a discovery - a beautiful little
café in a quiet street.
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an effort
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You're not trying hard enough! Make
an effort!
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an error
|
He made several errors on the report, and the boss told him to rewrite
it.
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your escape
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The bank robbers took £10,000 from the safe and then made their escape.
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an exception
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Usually the children aren't allowed to watch TV but I made an exception
today since the weather was so horrible.
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an excuse
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Why was Lisa late? Did she make an excuse?
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a face
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The child took a bite of the broccoli and made a face.
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a fire
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We put up our tent, made a fire, and had a hot drink.
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a fool of yourself
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You shouldn't sing in front of everyone! You'll make a fool of yourself.
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a fortune
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Lucy made a fortune when she sold her company. Now she doesn't have to
work.
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friends
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She loved university and made lots of friends.
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fun of
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The children love to make fun of the teacher,– but only when
she's not looking.
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a fuss
|
It's okay! I'm fine, it's just a cough. Don't
make a fuss!
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an impression
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Jenny certainly made an impression last night! All my friends are asking
about her.
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a joke
|
The interview was very tense at the beginning, but then John made a joke,
and after that it was much more relaxed.
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a journey
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Because of the snow, try not to make any journeys which are not
absolutely essential.
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a list
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First, I must make a list of all the things I need to do.
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a loss
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Their business made a loss the first year, but did much better after
that.
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love
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The hero and the heroine made love in the film.
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a mess
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What a mess you've made! Can't you tidy up a bit?
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a mistake
|
She made so many mistakes in her essay that the teacher couldn't
understand it.
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money
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John made a lot of money in his twenties and was able to retire at the
age of 35.
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a move
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Look how late it is! Let's make a move.
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a noise
|
Please try not to make a noise when you come home, because I'll be
asleep.
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an observation
|
Could I make an observation? I don't think some of our customers like the
new adverts.
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an offer
|
She made an offer on a house. She's nervous because she'll find out today
if it has been accepted, and she really wants to buy that house.
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a payment
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Hello? I'd like to make a credit card payment, please.
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a phone call
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I'm going to go outside and make a phone call. It's too noisy in here.
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plans
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David is making plans to move to Paris.
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a point
|
The professor used lots of examples to make his point.
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a prediction
|
The journalist made a prediction about the economy, but in the end it
wasn't correct.
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a profit
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His business made a profit from the beginning.
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progress
|
Finally, after being stuck in a traffic jam for an hour, we're making
some progress! We'll arrive by 8pm.
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a promise
|
I must study hard today. I made a promise to my mum that I wouldn't fail
any more exams.
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a remark
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John was upset because the boss made a negative remark about his work.
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a reservation
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Could you call the restaurant and make a reservation for tonight?
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a scene
|
Susie made a scene in the café when her order was wrong. She shouted at
all the staff and demanded to speak to the manager.
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a sound
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Don't make a sound! We need to be completely quiet.
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a speech
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The bride's father often makes a speech at her wedding.
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a suggestion
|
Could I make a suggestion? How about going out for dinner?
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sure
|
I don't think I left the gate open, but I'm just going to go and make
sure.
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the bed
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Could you please make the bed before you leave the house? Otherwise it
looks so messy with the duvet and the pillows everywhere.
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time (=find time to do something)
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Everybody's busy, but you need to make time to study. Otherwise you won't
be able to get a better job.
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trouble
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That employee is trying to make trouble. He is always telling the boss
bad things about his colleagues.
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a visit
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I'll call you this afternoon.– I need to make
a visit to my granny this morning.
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your mind up
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Do you want chocolate or strawberry ice cream? Make your mind up quickly!
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your way
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After the film, John made his way to a café, where he had two cups of
coffee and some cake.
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SOURCE: www.perfect-english-grammar.com
