Do versus Make
Do and Make are two verbs which frequently confuse students. Here with ArrowEnglish, let’s learn about the difference between Do and Make and when to use each one.
When do you use Do?
Do is used as follows:
- To talk about work, jobs or tasks.
Note: they do not produce any physical object.
- Have you done your homework?
- Who will do the chores next week?
- To refer to activities in general without being specific.
Note: words like thing, something, nothing, anything, everything etc. are normally used in these cases.
- Hurry up! I’ve got things to do!
- Don’t just stand there – do something!
- To replace a verb when the meaning is clearor obvious => common in informal spoken English:
- Have you done the dishes yet? (done = washed)
- I’ll do the kitchen if you do the lawns (do = clean, do = mow)
OR
- A: You have to make a cake for Simon?
B: I’ll do it later.
èDo can also be as an auxiliary verb.
When do you use Make?
- For producing, constructing, creating or buildingsomething new.
It is also used to indicate the origin of a product or the materials that are used to make something.
- Wine is made from grapes.
- The watches were made in Switzerland
- For producing an action or reaction:
- Onions make your eyes water.
- It’s not my fault. My brother made me do it!
- After certain nouns about plansanddecisions:
- make the arrangements
- make a choice
- With nouns about speakingandcertain sounds:
- make a comment
- make a speech
- With Food, Drink andMeals:
- make a cup of tea
- make dinner
