When we express ourselves in English, it is normal that we have doubts about when to use certain verbs that, at first glance, can be very similar. This is the case with the “do” and the “make” for example.
As main differences in its use we can highlight the use of the “do” for repeated actions, obligations or activities. Instead, we can use the “make” to talk about creating or producing something or to perform actions that you decide to do. In short, with the “do” we express an action that has no physical result, while what we express with the “make” does.
Let’s go into a little more detail about each of them:
When to use the DO
Routine actions or tasks
- Do the laundry
- Do the shopping
To talk about an activity that hasn’t been mentioned before or you don’t know exactly what it’s about
- What is Jon doing?
To talk about individual sports
- Marie does yoga
- He does judo
Good/bad deeds
- Do well
- Do the right thing
- Do badly
- Do your best
General stocks
- Do anything
- Do something
- Do nothing
Personal care
- Do your hair
- Do your nails
- Do exercise
Profession and studies
- What do you do?
- What do you do for a living?
- Do business
- Do homework
- Do a good job
- Do a report
- Do a course
In different grammatical structures
- With phrasal verbs
- As an auxiliary verb in interrogative phrases
- Verbal time “to be doing”
When to use MAKE
As explained above, when we use this verb it is because you can see a tangible result, therefore it is used in the sense of creating or manufacturing.
When we talk about cooking
- Make breakfast
- Make an omelete
To talk about money
- Make money
- Make a profit
Reactions
- He makes me cry
- The movie makes me laugh
Communication topics
- Make a phone call
- Make a complaint
- Make a promise
- Make a speech
Interpersonal relationships
- Make Friends
- Make fun of someone
To make plans
- Make plans
- Make a decision
- Make an attempt
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