Do vs Make
Do = perform an action/work (do homework, do business). Make = create/produce a result (make food, make a decision, make friends).
The one-line answer
Do = perform an action/work (do homework, do business). Make = create/produce a result (make food, make a decision, make friends).
do
verbto perform an activity, work or duty — often for tasks and actions
- I need to do my homework.
- She does yoga every morning.
- What do you do for a living?
make
verbto create or produce a result — often for things and outcomes
- She made a delicious cake.
- We need to make a decision today.
- He made a lot of friends abroad.
Memory trick
There is no perfect rule — learn the collocations. DO: homework, business, exercise, your best, a favor, the dishes. MAKE: food/dinner, a decision, a mistake, money, friends, progress, a phone call, an effort.
Do vs Make: Test yourself
Question 1 of 2I ___ a terrible mistake in the interview.
Learn · practise · teach
Put the difference into practice
Explore more uses of these words, check your choices, or take the activities into your classroom.