What's the difference between make and do in English

 

In English, "make" and "do" are words that can mix people up. In other languages, you might use them the same way, but in English, they are different.

"Make" is when you create something, like a cake or a plan. It's when you can see or hold what you've made.

  • For example:
    • Make a cake means to create a cake.
    • Make a decision means to decide something.
    • Make a noise means to cause a sound.
    • Make a plan means to think up what you will do.
    • Make a mistake means you did something wrong.

"Do" is when you are doing an action or something you need to get done, but you might not have something to show after.

  • For example:
    • Do homework means finishing your schoolwork.
    • Do the dishes means washing your plates and cups.
    • Do a good job means working well.
    • Do exercises means working out your body.
    • Do a favour means helping someone.

Sometimes "make" and "do" are in special phrases you just have to remember, like "do time" for being in jail or "make peace" for stopping a fight.

So, remember: you "make" something you can use or see, and you "do" an action or job.

Learn the Difference Between "Do" and "Make"

 

Here's a large list of examples showing how to use "make" and "do" in sentences

Using "Make":

  1. Make a cup of tea: Can you make a cup of tea for grandma?
  2. Make a meal: Tonight, I'll make a meal for the whole family.
  3. Make friends: She finds it easy to make friends at school.
  4. Make a choice: You need to make a choice between the two options.
  5. Make money: He works hard to make money for his trip.
  6. Make a joke: My uncle likes to make jokes at family gatherings.
  7. Make a promise: I make a promise to exercise every day.
  8. Make a bed: I make my bed every morning after I wake up.
  9. Make an exception: Just this once, I’ll make an exception to the rule.
  10. Make an effort: You should make an effort to be on time.
  11. Make a list: Let’s make a list of things we need from the store.
  12. Make a phone call: I need to make a phone call before we leave.
  13. Make a reservation: Did you make a reservation at the restaurant?
  14. Make a suggestion: Feel free to make a suggestion for our next book club read.
  15. Make a complaint: If the service is bad, I'll make a complaint to the manager.
  16. Make a change: It's time to make a change in our routine.
  17. Make a mess: Please try not to make a mess when you're baking.
  18. Make a difference: Volunteers can make a difference in the community.
  19. Make a discovery: The scientist was excited to make a new discovery.
  20. Make a decision: It's tough to make a decision without all the information.

Using "Do":

  1. Do homework: The kids do their homework after school.
  2. Do the laundry: Can you do the laundry this weekend?
  3. Do well: She always does well on her math tests.
  4. Do damage: The storm did a lot of damage to the roof.
  5. Do a favour: Could you do me a favour and pass the salt?
  6. Do the dishes: I did the dishes last night, so it's your turn tonight.
  7. Do business: Our company does business with clients around the world.
  8. Do your hair: I need to do my hair before we go out.
  9. Do exercises: He does exercises every morning to stay fit.
  10. Do the shopping: I do the shopping on Saturdays.
  11. Do a dance: The little girl did a dance in the living room.
  12. Do an experiment: In science class, we will do an experiment with magnets.
  13. Do your best: Always do your best in whatever you undertake.
  14. Do a job: She does her job with a lot of passion.
  15. Do research: I have to do some research for my paper.
  16. Do a report: By tomorrow, I need to do a report on the book I read.
  17. Do harm: Doctors take an oath to not do harm to their patients.
  18. Do a task: He did the task quickly and efficiently.
  19. Do a test: Next week, we will do a test to assess our progress.
  20. Do an interview: Tomorrow, I'll do an interview for a new job.

These examples show how "make" is often used to indicate creation, preparation, or formation, while "do" often refers to performing tasks or actions.

Latest Lessons

  • Commonly Confused Word Pairs in English: Definitions, Differences, and Tips to Remember
     
  • Understanding English Tenses: A Beginner’s Guide
     
  • Common Injuries and How to Talk About Them in English – With Over 100 Examples
     
  • Possessive Pronouns in English: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples
     
  • Tense Changes in Reported Speech: Rules, Examples, and Usage
     
  • Phrasal Verbs for Relationships: Definitions, Examples, and Usage