Are you sometimes confused about when to use “make” and when to use “do” in English? You’re not alone! These two verbs are very common and can be tricky for English language learners at the B1 level and beyond. They both talk about actions, but we use them in different situations. This lesson will help you understand the key differences and confidently use ‘make’ and ‘do’ in your everyday English conversations and improve your spoken English practice.

Why are ‘Make’ and ‘Do’ Confusing?

Many learners find “make” and “do” difficult because there isn’t one simple grammar rule that always works. Instead, understanding their typical uses and common phrases is the best approach. Think of it as learning vocabulary patterns rather than strict grammar rules. By focusing on how native English speakers use these verbs, you can improve your English vocabulary and speak more naturally.

In this lesson, we will break down the common uses of ‘make’ and ‘do’ with clear examples and practice exercises to boost your confidence. Let’s learn how to use these essential English verbs correctly!

‘Make’ – Understanding its Common Uses

We generally use “make” when we are creating or constructing something. Think about bringing something new into existence or putting parts together. Here are some common situations where we use “make”:

1. Creating or Constructing Something

When you are physically creating or building something, you usually use “make”.

• Make a cake: I’m going to make a chocolate cake for your birthday.
• Make a table: He decided to make a wooden table for his garden.
• Make a cup of tea: Could you make me a cup of tea, please?
• Make a model: My son loves to make models out of LEGO bricks.

Notice in these examples, something is being produced or constructed. This is a key idea for understanding “make”.

2. Producing Something (Often with Your Hands or Skills)

“Make” is also used when you produce something, not always just physical objects, but also things like sounds, decisions, or plans.

• Make noise: The children are making a lot of noise in the garden.
• Make a phone call: I need to make a phone call to confirm our reservation.
• Make a decision: Have you made a decision about your holiday plans yet?
• Make a plan: Let’s make a plan for the weekend.
• Make an excuse: He always makes excuses for being late.

In these cases, you are bringing something about through your actions or words. This is another important aspect of “make”.

3. Causing Something to Happen or Change

Sometimes “make” is used to describe causing a change or making something happen to someone or something else.

• Make someone happy: A small gift can make someone happy.
• Make someone angry: His rude comments made her angry.
• Make a mistake: It’s okay to make mistakes when you are learning English.
• Make progress: She is making good progress in her English studies.
• Make a difference: Recycling can make a difference to the environment.

Here, “make” indicates an effect or change that results from an action.

4. Common Phrases with ‘Make’

There are many common phrases and collocations with “make” that you should learn. These are used very frequently in English.

• Make friends: It’s easy to make friends when you join a club.
• Make money: He wants to make more money in his new job.
• Make breakfast/lunch/dinner: I’m going to make breakfast for everyone.
• Make a mess: The children made a mess in the kitchen.
• Make sure: Please make sure you lock the door when you leave.
• Make an effort: You need to make an effort to improve your English pronunciation.

Learning these common phrases will greatly improve your fluency and understanding of English.

‘Do’ – Understanding its Common Uses

We generally use “do” for actions, work, and general activities. It’s often used for tasks, jobs, and general things we perform. Here are some common situations where we use “do”:

1. Actions, Work, and Jobs

“Do” is very common when talking about work, jobs, and general actions without being specific about what action it is.

• Do homework: Remember to do your homework before watching TV.
• Do the dishes: I’ll do the dishes after dinner.
• Do a job: He does a very important job at the hospital.
• Do work: I have a lot of work to do today.
• Do exercise: It’s important to do regular exercise to stay healthy.

These examples involve tasks or general activities that need to be completed.

2. General Actions and Unspecified Activities

We often use “do” with words like ‘something’, ‘anything’, ‘nothing’, ‘everything’, ‘what’, etc., when the action is not specifically named.

• Do something: Are you going to do something fun this weekend?
• Do anything: Is there anything I can do to help?
• Do nothing: I’m going to do nothing all day and just relax.
• Do everything: She does everything for her family.
• Do what you want: You can do what you want, it’s your choice.

In these cases, “do” is used in a more general way to refer to actions without specifying them.

3. Chores and Housework

“Do” is frequently used with household chores and tasks.

• Do the laundry: I need to do the laundry this afternoon.
• Do the cleaning: She does the cleaning every Saturday morning.
• Do the ironing: I hate doing the ironing.
• Do the shopping: Who is going to do the shopping this week?

These are common everyday tasks around the house.

4. Some Sports and Activities (Often Individual, Not Team Sports)

We often use “do” with individual sports and activities, especially martial arts and activities like yoga and aerobics. For team sports, we usually use “play”.

• Do yoga: She does yoga every morning to relax.
• Do karate: He does karate twice a week.
• Do aerobics: They do aerobics at the gym.
• Do gymnastics: My daughter does gymnastics.

Think of these as activities you “perform” or “practice”.

5. Common Phrases with ‘Do’

Like “make”, “do” also has many common phrases that are essential to learn.

• Do your best: Just do your best in the exam, that’s all we ask.
• Do a favour: Could you do me a favour and help me with this?
• Do business: They do business all over the world.
• Do research: I’m doing research for my university project.
• Do damage: The storm did a lot of damage to the coastal areas.
• Do well/badly: He did very well in his English test. / She did badly in the interview.

Learning these common ‘do’ phrases will significantly improve your English fluency and vocabulary.

Quick Tips to Remember ‘Make’ and ‘Do’

While there are no absolute rules, here are some helpful guidelines to remember when deciding between “make” and “do”:

• Think about ‘creation’: If you are creating or constructing something new, use “make”.
• Think about ‘action/work’: If you are talking about general actions, work, or tasks, use “do”.
• Learn common phrases: The best way to master “make” and “do” is to learn common collocations and phrases. Practice using them in sentences.
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Everyone makes mistakes when learning a new language. The important thing is to practice and learn from them.

Let’s Practice!

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb, “make” or “do”.

1. I need to ______ a phone call.
2. She wants to ______ friends in her new class.
3. We should ______ exercise every day.
4. They are going to ______ a cake for the party.
5. He has to ______ his homework tonight.
6. Can you ______ me a favour?
7. Don’t ______ so much noise!
8. She is ______ her best to learn English.
9. They ______ business with companies all over the world.
10. Did you ______ a decision yet?

Answers

1. make
2. make
3. do
4. make
5. do
6. do
7. make
8. doing
9. do
10. make

Conclusion: Practice ‘Make’ and ‘Do’ in Your Speaking!

Understanding when to use “make” and “do” is a key step in improving your English vocabulary and speaking skills. While it can be tricky, focusing on the common uses and practicing regularly will make a big difference. Don’t just read about it – start using “make” and “do” in your conversations today!

To really master these verbs and improve your spoken English practice, try using Lingofrnd.com! Lingofrnd is your AI spoken English teacher, ready to help you practice using “make” and “do” and build your speaking confidence. Download App now and start speaking English fluently!

Keep practicing, and you’ll soon be using “make” and “do” like a native speaker!