Make vs do
Use make when you build, produce, or cook something. Use do for tasks and work, like homework. Many common phrases must just be learned: make a mistake, make a decision, make a phone call, make the bed, do someone a favor, do your best.
make verb
To build, produce, or cook something, so there is a new thing at the end, like a car, a chair, or a meal.
- My grandmother made this quilt by hand.
- Can you make some coffee for our guests?
do verb
To perform an action or carry out a piece of work, like homework, the dishes, or a report.
- I need to do my homework before dinner.
- Who did the dishes last night?
Watch out
- Make can also mean to force or cause: they made us wait, with no to. In the passive, add to: we were made to wait. Make also works with a describing word: the rain made the road slippery.The teacher made us rewrite the whole essay.
- When you earn money or get onto a team, use make: make money, make a living, make the team. Do is not used with this meaning.She makes good money as a nurse.
Test yourself
Please blank your homework before you watch TV.
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do. Homework is a task you carry out, so use do.
She likes to blank fresh bread on Sunday mornings.
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make. She is cooking food, and a new thing exists at the end.
Who is going to blank the dishes tonight?
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do. Washing the dishes is a job you carry out, not something you build.
Please don't blank me wait outside in the rain.
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make. Make plus a person plus a verb with no to means force or cause. Here it means force.