Do and Make

Do (usage) Make (usage)

Use DO for actions, obligations, and repetitive tasks. Use MAKE for creating or producing something, and for
actions you choose to do.

DO generally refers to the action itself, and MAKE usually refers to the result. For example, if you “make breakfast,” the result is an omelet!
If you “make a suggestion,” you have created a recommendation.

Common English Collocations With DO Common English Collocations With MAKE

HOUSEWORK FOOD

do the housework make breakfast/lunch/dinner

After I got home from the office, I was too tired to do the housework. I’m making dinner – it’ll be ready in about ten minutes.
do the laundry make a sandwich
I really need to do the laundry – I don’t have any clean clothes left! Could you make me a turkey sandwich?
do the dishes make a salad
I’ll make dinner if you do the dishes afterwards. I made a salad for the family picnic.
(you can also say “wash the dishes”) make a cup of tea
do the shopping Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?
I went to the bank, did some shopping, and mailed a package at the post make a reservation
office. I’ve made a reservation for 7:30 at our favorite restaurant.
EXCEPTION: make the bed = putting blankets, sheets, and pillows in the MONEY
correct place so that the bed looks nice and not messy.
make money
I enjoy my job, but I don’t make very much money.
WORK / STUDY
make a profit
The new company made a profit within its first year.
do work
make a fortune
I can’t go out this weekend – I have to do some work on an extra project.
He made a fortune after his book hit #1 on the bestseller list.
do homework
make $_______
You can’t watch any TV until you’ve done your homework.
I made $250 selling my old CDs on the internet.
do business
RELATIONSHIPS
We do business with clients in fifteen countries.
do a good/great/terrible job
make friends
She did a good job organizing the party.
It’s hard to make friends when you move to a big city.
(in this expression, “job” doesn’t necessarily refer to work. It simply means
make love (= have sex)
the person did something well)
The newlyweds made love on the beach during their honeymoon.
do a report
make a pass at (= flirt with someone)
I’m doing a report on the history of American foreign policy.
My best friend’s brother made a pass at me – he asked if I was single and tried to get my phone number.
(you can also say “writing a report”)
make fun of someone (= tease / mock someone)
do a course
The other kids made fun of Jimmy when he got glasses, calling him “four eyes.”
We’re doing a course at the local university.
make up (= resolve a problem in a relationship)
(you can also say “taking a course”)
Karen and Jennifer made up after the big fight they had last week.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY
COMMUNICATION

do exercise
make a phone call
I do at least half an hour of exercise every day.
Please excuse me – I need to make a phone call.
do your hair (= style your hair)
make a joke
I’ll be ready to go in 15 minutes – I just need to do my hair.
He made a joke, but it wasn’t very funny and no one laughed.
do your nails (= paint your nails) make a point
Can you open this envelope for me? I just did my nails and they’re still wet. Dana made some good points during the meeting; I think we should consider her ideas.
GENERAL GOOD OR BAD ACTIONS make a bet
I made a bet with Peter to see who could do more push-ups.
do anything / something / everything / nothing make a complaint
Are you doing anything special for your birthday? We made a complaint with our internet provider about their terrible service, but we still haven’t heard
You can’t do everything by yourself – let me help you. back from them.
do well make a confession
I think I did pretty well in the interview. I need to make a confession: I was the one who ate the last piece of cake.
do badly make a speech
Everyone did badly on the test – the highest grade was 68. The company president made a speech about ethics in the workplace.
do good make a suggestion
The non-profit organization has done a lot of good in the community. Can I make a suggestion? I think you should cut your hair shorter – it’d look great on you!
do the right thing make a prediction
When I found someone’s wallet on the sidewalk, I turned it in to the police It’s difficult to make any predictions about the future of the economy.
because I wanted to do the right thing. make an excuse
do your best When I asked him if he’d finished the work, he started making excuses about how he was too busy.
Don’t worry about getting everything perfect – just do your best. make a promise
I made a promise to help her whenever she needs it.
(you can also say, “I promised to help her whenever she needs it.”)
make a fuss (= demonstrate annoyance)
Stop making a fuss – he’s only late a couple minutes. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.
make an observation
I’d like to make an observation about our business plan – it’s not set in stone, so we can be flexible.
make a comment
The teacher made a few critical comments on my essay.
EXCEPTION: Don’t say “make a question.” The correct phrase is “ask a question.”

PLANS & PROGRESS

make plans
We’re making plans to travel to Australia next year.
make a decision/choice
I’ve made my decision – I’m going to go to New York University, not Boston University.
make a mistake
You made a few mistakes in your calculations – the correct total is $5430, not $4530.
make progress
My students are making good progress. Their spoken English is improving a lot.
make an attempt / effort (= try)
I’m making an effort to stop smoking this year.
make up your mind (= decide)
Should I buy a desktop or a laptop computer? I can’t make up my mind.
make a discovery
Scientists have made an important discovery in the area of genetics.
make a list
I’m making a list of everything we need for the wedding: invitations, decorations, a cake, a band, the
dress…
make sure (= confirm)
Can you make sure we have enough copies of the report for everybody at the meeting?
make a difference
Getting eight hours of sleep makes a big difference in my day. I have more energy!
make an exception
Normally the teacher doesn’t accept late homework, but she made an exception for me because my
backpack was stolen with my homework inside it.