Level: Intermediate-Advanced
MAKE
MAKE is used when you create or construct something.
The company based in Madrid makes the most modern computers.
She needs to make more verses for her new song.
Did she really make that dress herself?
DO
DO is used for activities in general. In this case, do is usually followed by something, nothing, anything or everything.
It is so frustrating that they did not do anything about the issue.
Carla is sick of doing everything at work.
Is he doing anything interesting during his vacation?
NOTE: What do you do? = What’s your job?
There are a lot of collocations with make and do. Unfortunately, there are no specific rules that can help you remember how to use both words correctly. All you can do is to familiarize yourself with all of them. Below is a list of words that come with either make or do.
DO
| do xx kph (miles per hour) | Most motorists do more than 30 mph through the city. It’s beyond the speed limit. |
| do badly | They did very badly at the preliminaries, so they’ll have to do better next game. |
| do your best | It’s alright if you make mistakes in your sentences. Just do your best. |
| do business | It’s been great doing business with this company. Everyone’s just very efficient and professional. |
| do chores | I’m going to spend the weekend doing chores at home. |
| do a course | After losing his job, Sam decided to do a course in German at a local language institute. |
| do a crossword | One of her favorite activities is doing crosswords. |
| do damage | His PR team couldn’t do much after the scandal he got involved in. The damage to his image has been done. |
| do the dishes / the washing up | Everyone I know hates doing the dishes. |
| do a drawing | She was able to have many things accomplished because her kids spent hours doing their drawings. |
| do your duty/responsibility | Do your duty as a citizen, go out and vote this election. |
| do an exam | She’s going to have to do a certification exam to get the job promotion. |
| do exercise | How long have you been doing this exercise? |
| do an exercise | To improve your English skills, make sure to do grammar exercises in your free time. |
| do someone a favor | Do me a big favor and clean your room! |
| do the gardening | My grandparents who live in the countryside spend most of their days doing the gardening. |
| do good | She tries to good by donating blood for sick children at that hospital. |
| do you good | Take a lot of rest this weekend. This will do you good for sure. |
| do your hair/your nails | Hurry up and do your hair already! We’re late! |
| do harm | He is so gentle, you wouldn’t think he’d do any harm on others. |
| do homework | I have so much homework to do this afternoon. I can’t go out with you. |
| do a job | I thought they did an excellent job in this film. |
| do the laundry / the washing | I have no other plans but to do the laundry this weekend. |
| do paperwork | It’s so tedious doing all this paperwork. |
| do research | Do not just believe everything you read online. Do your research too. |
| do the shopping | I do all the shopping for my grandmother ever since she became bed-ridden. |
| do time (in prison) | It was hard for him to find a job after he’d done some time in prison. |
| do well | My children are doing well at their new school. |
| do work | Do you have a lot of work today? |
MAKE
| make amends | In order to achieve peace on earth, nations should amend their differences. |
| make an appointment/arrangements | I have to make an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow. |
| make an attempt | She made an attempt in wining him back. |
| make believe | A lot of children likes to play make believe. It lets them think more creatively. |
| make certain | You have to make certain that they are going to sign this deal. |
| make a decision/change/choice/comment/complaint/confession | The couple needs to make a decision on whether they are going to get a divorce or not. |
| make a difference | She tries her best to be good and to make a difference in her community. |
| make an effort | You need to make an effort in practicing your speaking skills. |
| make an error/a mistake | I think they made an error on my bill. I’ve already paid for everything this month. |
| make an excuse | Stop making an excuse on doing things that make you happy. Just do it. |
| make a face | She didn’t like what he said so she made a face. |
| make a fool of someone | If you continue with this project, you’re only going to make a fool of yourself in front of the board of directors. |
| make a fortune | His family made a fortune from selling old cars. |
| make fun of | Stop making fun of his accent. |
| make one’s mind up | John and Mary need to make their mind up about buying this house. |
| make a scene | My greatest worry is for her to make a scene at the event if she gets too drunk again. |
| make progress | The scientists are proud to announce that they have made progress in coming up with a vaccine against the virus. |