DO versus MAKE

1. GUIDELINES

If you have a hard time deciding whether to use MAKE or DO in a certain context, here are some ground rules which will help you correctly and naturally opt for each of them.

DO

• is used when referring to general activities (usually associated with everything, something, anything, nothing)

He’d rather do everything by himself.

Is there anything for me to do? I want to be of help.

• is used when talking about one’s work (jobs, duties, tasks)

Have the children done their homework?

• especially in informal English, in order to substitute a verb with obvious meaning

I’ll do (clean) the house if you do (sweep) the yard.

Will you please (wash) do the dishes tonight?

• is also used as an auxiliary verb

MAKE

• is used with food and drinks

I love making breakfast/lunch/dinner for my family.

While you are catching your breath, I’ll make some coffee and then we’ll talk it over.

• is used when creating, producing, constructing, building

Bread is made by baking from a dough of flour and water.

This tutorial will show how jewellery is made. This necklace is made of gold.

The blouse is made in Romania.

• in order to cause / produce a (re)action

A good joke will make everyone laugh and ease the tension.

Chopping an onion will make you release tears / will make your eyes water.

• is used when describing/referring to actions one chooses to do
• is associated with certain nouns referring to arrangements, plans, decisions

We’ve made arrangements to facilitate our common work, by supporting each other.

• is used with nouns referring to speech and various sounds

Please don’t make any noise, lest you wake up the baby.

To be continued in the next post with a useful list of collocations.