The two verbs 'do' and 'make' are often confusing.

The meanings are a little bit similar, but there are differences. 'Do' for Activities Use the verb 'do' to express daily activities or jobs. Notice that these are usually activities that produce no physical object. Do homework Do housework Do the ironing Do the dishes Do for general ideas Use the verb 'do' when speaking about things in general. In other words, we use do when we do not exactly name an activity. This form is often used with the following words: something, nothing, anything, everything, etc He does everything to his mother She is doing nothing at the moment. Do is usually the correct word when we are talking about work. (In this sense its often used with -ing work activities: cooking, washing up, sewing, cleaning, shopping, etc) I never do the shopping but I always do the cooking. Important expressions with Do. Do a favor Do well Do harm Do ones best Do business

'Make' for Constructing, Building, Creating Use 'make' to express an activity that creates something that you can touch. Make food Make a cup of tea/coffee Make a mess Important expressions with 'Make' There are a number of standard expressions that take the verb 'make'. In a number of cases the verb 'do' seems more appropriate. These are standard collocations (verb + noun combinations) that are used in English. Make plans Make an Make a Make a Make a exception telephone call decision mistake Words that go with DO do a crossword / puzzle do shopping do the ironing do the laundry do the washing / cleaning do the washing up / dishes Do gardening do your work do homework do housework do your job do anything/ everything/ nothing Words that go with MAKE make amends make a noise make arrangements make a phone call make believe (to pretend) make a plan make a choice make a point make coffee make a profit make a comment make a promise make a cup of tea / coffee make a remark make a dress make a sound make a decision make a speech make a difference make a suggestion make an effort make tea make an enquiry make time make an excuse make a visit

do badly do business do a favor do good do harm Do (an) exercise Do a quiz / test do time (to go to prison) do well do your best do your hair do your nails do your worst

make a fool of yourself make food make a fortune make friends make a fuss make a journey make love make a mess make a mistake make money make a move Make a choice Make a journey Make a scene

make your bed Make a deal Make a change Make a progress Make a furniture Make trouble Make war/ peace Make a meal/breakfast/lunch/dinner Make a list Make an exception Make a sentence

Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the right word: 'do' or 'make' 1. Will you . me a favor, please? 2. It's your turn to .. the dishes today. 3. I will a list of the things we need. 4. Ok! I will . an exception for you. 5. Please, don't . mistakes. 6. I need to go out now. It's urgent. I have to .. a phone call. 7. The good students always . their homework. 8. My father won't .. the cleaning. 9. My husband never helps me .. dinner. 10. The students don't like to . quizzes. 11. The soldiers are obliged to . their beds every morning. 12. I don't know how people can money without hard work. 13. Can anybody .. a suggestion? I am completely in the dark. . 14. I always the washing up in the morning.

Key
1. Will you do me a favor, please? 2. It's your turn to do the dishes today. 3. I will make a list of the things we need. 4. Ok! I will make an exception for you. 5. Please, don't make mistakes. 6. I need to go out now. It's urgent. I have to make a phone call. 7. The good students always do their homework. 8. My father won't do the cleaning. 9. My husband never helps me make dinner. 10. The students don't like to do quizzes. 11. The soldiers are obliged to make their beds every morning. 12. I don't know how people can make money without hard work. 13. Can anybody make a suggestion? I am completely in the dark. 14. I always do the washing up in the morning.

Mohamed Lahbib KATHI