'Make' or 'Do'?
It can be hard to decide when to use 'make' or 'do' in English. Here's some help.
1: We use 'make' when we create or construct something. For example:
She made a cake.
I've made us some coffee.
Did you really make those trousers?
2: We use 'do' for general activities. In this case, 'do' is often used with 'something', 'nothing', 'anything' or 'everything':
What did you do at the weekend?
I didn't do anything yesterday.
She's fed up with doing everything herself. She needs some help.
Are you doing anything interesting during the holidays?
NOTE: 'What do you do?' means 'what's your job?'
3: There are many, many fixed expressions with 'make' and 'do'. Unfortunately, they don't really follow any useful rules, so you have to learn them. Sorry!
Choose the right forms of make or do given in brackets to complete the sentences given below:
1. What do you [do /make] for a living?
2. Have you [done/ made] your homework yet?
3. Have you [done/ made] a decision yet?
4. Amber [did/ made] badly in her geography exam.
5. The children [did/ made] a mess in the kitchen.
6. We are having guests tonight, so please [did/ made] your bed.
7. I only [do/make] one mistake in my English test.
8. I'd like to ask you to [do/ make] me a favor.
9. My husband [does/makes] the grocery shopping.
10. Please excuse me while I [do/ make] a phone call.