DO AND MAKE
Use “make” for when you create or produce something.
Use “do” for actions you must do, like jobs or work, and for general activities, especially activities you repeat often.
To make’ something is to create something. Something wasn’t there, and then you made it. For example, you make a mistake. There was no mistake and then you created it; you made it. To make is to create something that did not exist before.
You make…
We use do for actions and tasks. For example, we do our homework. Who makes your homework? Your teacher does. S/he creates it (makes it). And then you do it.
Do …
We also use do for activities (like sports) that do not have their own verb.
You do: exercise - yoga - karate / taekwondo / judo - karaoke
Practice Exercises: Make or Do?
John didn’t get the job because he __________ a mistake on his application.
The hikers decide to __________ a fire at the side of the lake.
Students can __________ research in the library.
The company __________ a profit last year, thankfully.
When their parents were away, the children __________ a mess.
Kate __________ her friend a favour yesterday. She drove her to the airport.
made make do made made did
The negative advertising campaign ____________damage to the company’s reputation.
We didn’t feel like ____________dinner, so we decided to ____________a reservation at our favourite restaurant.
Olivia ____________her best to ____________yoga every morning.
I wanted to work for the company, but they did not ____________me an offer. So I’m still unemployed and not ____________any money.
Mike ____________friends easily. In fact, yesterday when he was ____________karate, he met a funny guy named Ricardo.
The little boy ____________a wish and then blew out the candles on his birthday cake.
did, making, make, does, do, make, making, makes, doing, make
Johnson is worried that her son isn’t ____________progress at school. He’s not doingmaking well. He doesn’t domake his homework regularly. He needs to domake an effort to improve. Otherwise, he will fail his classes.
Alan’s daughter is hardworking. She ____________her share of the housework. For example, yesterday she ____________her bed, didmade the dishes, didmade the laundry, and she didmade the ironing. She even didmade coffee in the morning.
1- making, doing, do, make
2- does, make, did, did, did, made
Roger isn’t a good worker. He ____________a lot of jokes at work. When his boss asks him why he isn’t ____________his work, he always ____________an excuse. Often he ____________phone calls to his girlfriend at the office. I wish he would ____________his job. When we hired him, I think we ____________a bad decision.
Last night, Brenda ____________plans to go to a dance club. Before she left, she ____________her hair, she ____________her makeup, and she ____________her nails. She left some dirty dishes in the sink because she didn’t want to ____________the washing. After dancing, she and her friends ____________karaoke until 3 a.m.
1- makes, doing, makes, makes, do, made
2- made, did, did, did, do, did
EXAMPLES
Make:
Amends / Reparar = How can I make amends? / Como posso reparar isso?
Appointment / Consulta = He made an appointment with his doctor yesterday. / Ele fez uma consulta com seu médico ontem.
Arrangements / Combinação = Let's make some arrangements. / Vamos fazer uma combinação.
Attempt / Tentativa / esforço = Let's make an attempt to be on time./ Vamos tentar chegar na hora.
Certain / Certo / Exato = Let's make certain that she'll come. / Vamos ter certeza de que ela virá.
Effort / Esforçar-se = This isn't your best. Make an effort! / Esse não é o seu melhor. Faça um esforço!
Change / Mudança = They made some changes in my schedule. / Eles fizeram uma mudança em minha agenda.
Choice / Escolha = Make your joice, this is the point of no return. / Faça sua escolha, esse é um ponto sem volta.
Decision / Decisão = I made my decision. I want to you! / Eu fiz minha decisão. Eu quero você!
Mistake / Erro = I made so many mistakes in my text. / Eu fiz tantos erros em meu texto.
DO:
Your best / Seu melhor = Just do your best. / Apenas faça seu melhor.
Business / Negócios = It's been a pleasure doing business with you. / Tem sido um prazer negociar com você.
Course / Curso = Melissa has decided to do a course in computing. / Melissa decidiu fazer um curso em computação.
Drawing / Desenhar = He's doing a beautiful drawing. / Ele está fazendo um desenho bonito.
You good / Bem a você = You really should eat more vegetables. They'll do you good! / Você realmente deveria comer mais legumes. Eles farão bem a você.
Your hair / Seu cabelo = Jane spends a lot time doing her hair. / Jane gasta muito tempo arrumando seu cabelo.
Housework / Trabalho de casa = We have all the housework to do today. / Temos todo o trabalho de casa para fazer hoje.
Well / Bem = My husband is doing well in his new job. / Meu marido está indo bem em seu novo trabalho.
Work / Trabalho = We have a lot of work to do in this afternoon. / Nós temos muito trabalho para fazer essa tarde.
Let’s look at some examples of each verb.
Make
Here are examples of “make” for things we produce. These can be something you can touch, like food and drinks.
I made a cake for your birthday.
Please make some tea before you leave.
Sometimes you cannot see or touch the thing that is created.
Your dog is making too much noise.
We are making progress on our study.
She made plans to go to a movie with her sister.
Do
Let’s look at use of “do” for work or jobs. In another “Ask a Teacher” we talked about the questions, "What do you do? and what are you doing" Here are some other examples of using “do” to talk about work at home.
I have to do the planting every fall.
Mom says, “No TV until you do your homework.”
Another way to use “do” is with words like “something,” “anything” and “nothing.”
I did not do anything yesterday.
Are you doing something interesting over the holiday?
The police did nothing to stop the crimes.
Next time you are trying to decide between “make” and “do,” please keep these rules in mind. The more you listen to and read English, the easier it will be to choose between these verbs
*Jill Robbins.
