DO vs. MAKE | The Difference Between Do and Make in English

Have you ever found yourself confused about when to use “do” and when to use “make” in English? These two verbs are among the most commonly used in the language, but they can be tricky to use correctly. While they both refer to performing an action, the contexts in which they are used can be quite different. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between “do” and “make” and give you some tips to help you use them correctly in your everyday conversations.

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Understanding the Basics of Do and Make

When learning English, it’s important to understand the difference between the verbs do and make. While they may seem interchangeable at times, they actually have distinct meanings and uses.

Do

The verb “do” is often used to express daily activities or jobs. For example, you might say “I need to do the laundry” or “I have to do my homework.” It can also be used to describe actions, obligations, and repetitive tasks. For instance, “I need to do my exercises every day” or “I have to do the dishes after dinner.”

Make

On the other hand, “make” is used to describe creating, constructing, or producing something. For example, you might say “I’m going to make dinner tonight” or “I made a cake for my friend’s birthday.” It can also be used to describe actions that you choose to do, such as “I’m going to make an effort to exercise more” or “I want to make new friends.”

Common Uses of Do

When it comes to the verb “do,” it is used in various contexts. In this section, we will explore the common uses of “do” in daily conversations and professional contexts.

Do in Daily Conversations

In daily conversations, “do” is often used to describe activities or tasks that we perform. It is also used to express obligations or duties that we have to complete. Here are some examples:

“I need to do laundry today.”
“Did you do your homework last night?”
“What do you usually do in your free time?”

As you can see, “do” is used to describe actions that are not specific or defined.

Do in Professional Context

In professional contexts, “do” is used to describe tasks or activities that are part of our job responsibilities. It is also used to express actions that need to be completed to achieve a specific outcome. Here are some examples:

“I need to do some research before I can write this report.”
“Can you do me a favor and send me the file?”
“What do you suggest we do to improve our sales?”

In professional contexts, “do” is used to describe specific tasks or actions that are necessary to achieve a goal.

Common Uses of Make

When it comes to the verb “make,” it is usually used when referring to creating or producing something. Here are some common uses of “make” in daily conversations and professional contexts.

Make in Daily Conversations

In daily conversations, “make” is often used to describe activities related to cooking, crafting, or building. For example:

Make breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Make a cake, pie, or cookies
Make a card, drawing, or painting
Make a table, chair, or shelf

“Make” can also be used to express emotions or reactions, such as:

Make a joke, pun, or witty remark
Make a face, expression, or gesture
Make a decision, choice, or plan

Make in Professional Context

In professional contexts, “make” is often used to describe activities related to manufacturing, construction, or production. For example:

Make a product, prototype, or model
Make a building, bridge, or road
Make a movie, video, or commercial

“Make” can also be used to express achievement or success, such as:

Make a sale, deal, or profit
Make progress, improvement, or change
Make a name, reputation, or brand

Key Differences Between Do and Make

When learning English, one of the most common challenges is understanding the difference between “do” and “make.” Both verbs are used to describe actions, but they have distinct meanings and uses. Here are some key differences to keep in mind:

General Differences

“Do” is often used to describe activities that are vague or indefinite, such as daily routines or tasks that don’t have a specific outcome. For example, you might say “I need to do some exercise” or “I have to do the dishes.”
“Make,” on the other hand, is usually used to describe actions that create a specific outcome or result. For example, you might say “I’m going to make dinner” or “I made a cake for the party.”

Collocations

“Do” is often used with certain collocations, such as “do homework,” “do the laundry,” and “do a favor.” These phrases are fixed and cannot be changed.
“Make” is also used with certain collocations, such as “make a decision,” “make a plan,” and “make a mistake.” These phrases are also fixed and cannot be changed.

Learn more: Collocations with Make

Idiomatic Expressions

Both “do” and “make” are used in a variety of idiomatic expressions that have specific meanings. For example, you might “make a fuss” or “do someone a favor.” These expressions can be difficult to learn, but they are an important part of English language usage.

Other Differences

“Do” can be used as an auxiliary verb to form questions and negatives, as in “Do you like pizza?” or “I don’t do drugs.”
“Make” can be used to describe the process of creating or constructing something, as in “I made a painting” or “She made a dress.”

Example of Do and Make

Example of Do

Collocations	Example Sentences
Do the dishes	Can you do the dishes tonight?
Do an exercise	I need to do some exercise to stay healthy.
Do the laundry	I have to do the laundry before the weekend.
Do the ironing	She spends her Sunday afternoon doing the ironing.
Do the shopping	I usually do the shopping on Saturdays.
Do your work	You need to do your work before the deadline.
Do homework	I have to do my homework before going out.
Do housework	She does all the housework by herself.
Do your job	You need to do your job properly.
Do business	He’s always busy doing business with clients.
Do your hair	I need to do my hair before the party tonight.
Do your nails	She’s going to do her nails at the salon.
Do one’s best	I always try to do my best at work.
Do good	She volunteers to do good in her community.
Do harm	He didn’t mean to do harm to anyone.
Do a favor	Can you do me a favor and pick up my mail?
Do things right / badly / well	It’s important to do things right in your job.
Do time	He’s going to do time in prison for his crime.
Do your best / worst	You should always do your best in everything you do.

Example of Make

These are some important expressions that you can use with make:

Collocations	Example Sentences
Make arrangements	Let’s make arrangements for the meeting next week.
Make an attempt	He decided to make an attempt to climb the mountain.
Make bed	I always make my bed as soon as I wake up.
Make believe	Children love to make believe they are superheroes.
Make change	Can you make change for a $20 bill?
Make a choice	You have to make a choice between the two options.
Make a comment	She always has something to make a comment about.
Make a complaint	I need to make a complaint about the service I received.
Make a decision	We have to make a decision about the new project.
Make a demand	She’s going to make a demand for better working conditions.
Make a difference	You can make a difference in someone’s life by helping them.
Make an effort	I’m going to make an effort to finish this project on time.
Make an exception	We can make an exception for you this time.
Make an excuse	He always tries to make an excuse for being late.
Make an inquiry	I need to make an inquiry about the product’s availability.
Make a fool of yourself	Don’t make a fool of yourself in front of your colleagues.
Make a fortune	He made a fortune by investing in the stock market.
Make friends	It’s easy to make friends when you’re friendly.
Make a fuss	She always makes a fuss about everything.
Make a journey	We’re going to make a journey to the other side of the world.
Make love	They made love under the stars.
Make a mess	He made a mess in the kitchen while cooking.
Make a mistake	Everyone makes mistakes, it’s part of learning.
Make money	He made a lot of money by starting his own business.
Make a move	He’s waiting for the right moment to make a move in the game.
Make a noise	Please don’t make a noise, I’m trying to concentrate.
Make an offer	They made an offer to buy the company.
Make peace	It’s important to make peace with your enemies.
Make a phone call	I need to make a phone call to my friend.
Make a plan	Let’s make a plan for our vacation next summer.
Make a point	He always tries to make a point in every conversation.
Make a profit	The company made a big profit this year.
Make a promise	I made a promise to myself to exercise every day.
Make a remark	She made a remark about my outfit, but I didn’t mind.
Make a sound	The room was so quiet, you could hear a pin make a sound.
Make a speech	He made a speech at the conference about climate change.
Make a suggestion	Can I make a suggestion for the next meeting’s agenda?
Make time	I need to make time for my hobbies and interests.
Make a visit	I’m going to make a visit to my grandparents this weekend.
Make war	We should always try to make peace instead of making war.