When to use make and when do? It can be hard to decide but there is a simple general rule:
1. We use ‘make’ when we create or construct something. For example:
- She made a beautiful sandcastle.
- Lily makes delicious cakes.
- Did you really make these ornaments?
- You look tired. I have made you a cup of coffee.
‘Make’ is also used to talk about the materials used to make something, or the country where it is produced.
- The house is made of bricks.
- Everything is made in China.
2. We use ‘do’ for general activities. When we form sentences with ‘do’ we often use it together with words like ‘something’, ‘nothing’, ‘anything’ and ‘everything’:
- Are you doing anything interesting on Sunday?
- I didn’t do anything yesterday.
- She is tired of doing everything herself.
There are many fixed expressions with ‘make’ and ‘do’ and there are no rules for when to use which, so you have to memorise them. Here are just a few that are used the most frequently:
| Make | Do | |
Make arrangements Make an attempt Make a bed Make breakfast, lunch, dinner Make a booking Make a cake, a sandwich Make a call Make a change Make changes Make a choice Make a decision Make plans Make a comment Make a complaint Make a compromise Make a decision Make a declaration Make a deal Make a demand Make a discovery Make a difference Make an exception Make friends Make an effort Make an enquiry Make an excuse Make a fortune Make fun of something/somebody Make a fuss Make an impression Make money Make a mistake Make a loss Make love Make money Make a noise Make a sound Make an offer Make peace Make a phone call Make a point Make a presentation Make a profit Make progress Make a promise Make a remark Make a reservation Make a booking Make room for something Make a speech Make a statement Make a suggestion Make sure Make a threat Make a wish Make war | Do the accounts Do the shopping Do sport Do nothing Do well Do experiments Do the accounts Do an assignment Do badly Do business Do harm Do damage Do a degree Do a course Do the dishes Do the washing up Do drugs Do your dutyDo an exam Do exercises Do a favour Do the gardening Do your hair Do your make-up Do your work Do homework Do the housework Do the laundry Do the ironing Do military service Do a project Do research Do the accounts Do the shopping Do sport Do nothing Do something Do right Do wrong Do the accounts Do the shopping Do sport Do nothing Do well Do experiments Do the accounts Do an assignment Do badly Do business Do harm |