Difference Between Do and Make in English

When to use Do and Make?

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Difference Between Do and Make in English

When to use Do?

Do is a general word for actions.
We can use do to talk about work or activities in general:

  • do a sport.
  • do a course.
  • do an exam.
  • do a job.
  • do housework.
  • do homework.
  • What are you doing this evening? (not What are you making?)
  • Shall I open the door? No, it’s OK. I’ll do it.
  • Lora’s  job is very boring. She does the same thing every day.
  • I did a lot of things yesterday.

What do you do? = What’s your job?
To ask what job somebody does, we can say:
‘What do you do?’ ‘I work in a bank.’

When to use Make?

We can use make to mean ‘create’ or ‘produce. For example:

  • make coffee.
  • make a cake.
  • make a mess.
  • Make a list.
  • make a noise.
  • make a mistake.
  • She’s making coffee.
  • He has made a cake.
  • They make umbrellas.
  • It was made in China.

Compare do and make

  • I did a lot yesterday. I cleaned my room, I wrote some letters and I made a cake.
  • A: What do you do in your free time? Sport? Reading? Hobbies?
    B: I make clothes. I make dresses and jackets. I also make toys for my children.

Expressions with do

  • Do an exam / do a test. (I’m doing my driving test next week.)
  • Do a course. (Tom has just done a training course.)
  • Do homework. (Our children have to do a lot of homework.)
  • Do housework. (I hate doing housework, especially cleaning.)
  • Do somebody a favour. (Nora, could you do me a favour?)
  • Do an exercise. (I go for a run and do exercises every morning.)

Expressions with make

  • Make a mistake. I’m sorry, I made a mistake.
  • Make an appointment. I need to make an appointment to see the doctor.
  • Make a phone call. Excuse me, I have to make a phone call.
  • Make a list. Have you made a shopping list?
  • Make a noise. It’s late. Don’t make a noise.
  • Make a bed. Sometimes I forget to make my bed in the morning.

Do and make Examples:

  • Paper is made from wood.
  • What do you do? I’m a teacher.
  • Do you know how to make bread?
  • I’m hungry. Let’s make some sandwiches.
  • What do they make in that factory? Shoes and bags.
  • I hate doing housework, especially cleaning.
  • Why do you always do the same mistake?
  • Have you done your homework? Not yet.
  • I’m making some coffee. Would you like some?
  • The last time I did an exam was ten years ago.
  • Can you do me a favour? It depends what it is.
  • How many phone calls did you make yesterday?
  • What did you do at the weekend? Did you go away?
  • I asked you to clean the bathroom. Have you done it?
  • Why are you angry with me? I didn’t do anything wrong.
  • What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?’ ‘I’m working.
  • When you’ve finished Exercise 1, you can do Exercise 2.
  • Let’s make a list of all the things we have to do today.
  • Richard didn’t help me. He sat in an armchair and did nothing.
  • I need to see the dentist, but I haven’t made an appointment.
  • It was a bad mistake. It was the worst mistake I’ve ever made.
  • I’m doing a course in photography at the moment. It’s very good.
  • There’s something wrong with the car. The engine is making a strange noise.
  • Are you doing anything on Friday night? I’m having a birthday party. Would you like to come?

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