"Make vs. Do: A Simple Guide to Choosing the Right Verb"
- 17 de ago. de 2023
- 4 min de leitura
Make and do are two commonly confused verbs for English students. This is because in other languages, there is one word. For example, fazer in Portuguese, and hacer in Spanish. Do your best when studying this article as it will make a difference.
Before we go over the difference between make and do, we will quickly go over collocations.
A collocation is two words that go together in a fixed order. Rock N Roll, peanut butter and jam are examples of collocations. We do not say Roll N Rock or jam and peanut butter, we say Rock N Roll , and peanut butter and jam. Now that you know what a collocation is, you will learn more by the end of the article.
Make
In life we are able to make many things. We can make breakfast, we can make changes, we can make coffee and eggs. We can make noises and promises. We can also make a difference in other people's lives and make them happy. So, when is make used? Make is used when we create, construct or produce something. When we make something, there is an outcome. In most cases we can touch this outcome, for example, we can make breakfast, coffee, clothes, and money. In other cases we cannot touch what we made, such as, noise, a promise, a difference and a mistake. So, with make, we emphasize more the product or outcome.
Some collocations are:
Make a decision: To decide.
Make an effort: To try.
Make a difference: To have an impact.
Make a mistake: To do something wrong.
Make a choice: To select an option.
Make progress: To move forward or improve.
Make a plan: To create a strategy.
Make money: To earn income.
Make friends: To establish friendships.
Make breakfast/lunch/dinner: To prepare a meal.
Make a phone call: To initiate a telephone conversation.
Make a suggestion: To propose an idea.
Make a promise: To commit to doing something.
Make an appointment: To schedule a meeting.
Make an exception: To deviate from a rule.
Make a statement: To express an opinion or viewpoint.
Make an observation: To note something.
Make a speech: To give a formal talk.
Make an excuse: To provide a reason for not doing something.
Make an impression: To create an effect or influence.
Make a decision: To choose a course of action.
Make an announcement: To declare something publicly.
Make a donation: To contribute money or resources.
Make an attempt: To try to do something.
Make a wish: To express a desire.
With each collocation, there is an outcome related to the action.
Do
A very common question to ask someone when you first meet them is, "what do you do??" This question asks them about their job. A job is an activity that you do to make money. Now you can see that do is used for activities in general without being specific. What else do we do? We can do nothing, we can do something, we can do anything we want! With do, we focus more on the action. For example, we can do the dishes, do laundry, do homework and do some gardening a nice, sunny day.
With do, we can also use it to replace a verb when the meaning is clear. Maybe you have heard someone say "do the dishes." Do the dishes means to clean the dishes. We can also do our hair which means to clean or wash our hair.
Here is a list of collocations:
Do homework: To complete school assignments.
Do a job/task: To perform a specific work or duty.
Do the dishes: To wash the plates, utensils, etc., after a meal.
Do housework: To perform household chores.
Do exercise: To engage in physical activity.
Do research: To investigate or gather information.
Do a favor: To help someone.
Do well: To perform or progress successfully.
Do your best: To put forth maximum effort.
Do business: To engage in commercial activities.
Do the laundry: To wash clothes.
Do an experiment: To conduct a scientific test.
Do someone a favor: To assist someone.
Do the shopping: To purchase groceries or items.
Do a presentation: To give a talk or demonstration.
Do an interview: To participate in a formal conversation.
Do damage: To cause harm.
Do an analysis: To examine in detail.
Do a puzzle: To solve a game or mental challenge.
Do paperwork: To complete administrative tasks.
Do a course: To undertake an educational program.
Do the cooking: To prepare meals.
Do a test: To take an examination.
Do a review: To evaluate or assess.
Do the right thing: To make a morally correct choice.
Exceptions
As always, there are exceptions. Some exceptions are:
Make a bed: To arrange the sheets and covers on a bed.
Make an effort: To put in energy or attempt something.
Do damage: To cause harm or destruction.
Do time: To serve a prison sentence.
Do your hair/makeup: To style your hair or apply makeup.
Do the math: To perform calculations.
Do the trick: To solve a problem or achieve a result.
Summary
Do is used for:
Jobs
Tasks
Activities without being specific
Make is used for:
Production
Creation
Outcome
Comentários