What’s the difference between “do” and “make”?

Luckily, there are some rules to help you understand the major differences between “make” and “do”, which we’ll get into below.

But the truth is that not every rule is as straightforward as you might like (a common theme in English grammar, unfortunately). In those cases, the best thing you can do is to learn common collocations—sets of words that just “sound right” together. 

In this article, we’ll go through some of the “do” vs. “make” guidelines, common collocations and phrases, and examples to give you some context and an idea of how you can use them.

• The basic difference between "do" and "make"
• When to use “make”
• Common English collocations with “make”
• When to use “do”
• Common collocations with “do”
• Examples across languages

The basic difference between "do" and "make"

At first glance, “do” and “make” might seem to have similar meanings, as they both encompass activities involving actions or tasks. They also tend to translate to the one word in many languages. However, a deeper analysis reveals a fundamental difference in their application.

In essence, “do” generally refers to performing actions or repetitive tasks viewed as necessary, mundane, or routine. It's also used to form  common phrases and collocations, such as ''do a job'' or ''do business.''

Conversely, “make” typically involves creating or producing something tangible or intangible. However, it can also be used to form certain collocations, just like ''do'', such as "make a phone call" or "make friends", which have nothing to do with creating an object.

When to use “make” 

In general, you use “make” to talk about the result of an action, not the action itself. Results are often things you can see or touch. Here are the most common categories:

• Food and drinks – cookies, lunch
• Construction and art projects – a bookshelf, a vase
• Finances – money, a profit

You can also "make" things that aren't visible. These are still considered results because they’re the outcomes of things you decide to do. Some examples of things you can make are:

• Plans
• Offers
• Suggestions
• Choices

Common English collocations with "make"

Here are a few common collocations you can learn that only use “make”—never “do.”

Make breakfast/lunch/dinner

“I don’t feel like making dinner tonight. Let’s go to a restaurant instead!”

"I can make you a turkey sandwich."

Make coffee/tea

“I’m not getting up until you promise me you’ll make some coffee.”

Make a decision

“My sister has been accepted to two amazing universities. Now she has to make a decision.”

Make a difference

“I don’t know exactly what I want to do for a career, but I do know I want to make a difference in the world.”

Make an effort

“Not everything in life comes easily. Sometimes you have to make an effort to get what you want.”

Make friends

“We used to move a lot when I was young. I found it very difficult to make friends at school.”

Make a mess

“My mom loves to cook, but she makes a huge mess whenever she does.”

Make a mistake

“Don’t be afraid to make a mistake—that’s the best way to learn.”

Make money

“To me, the most important thing in life is to make money.”

Make noise

“Our neighbors are so rude. They make noise at all hours of the night!” 

Make a (phone) call

“I’ll be right there in about ten minutes. I just need to make a quick phone call.”

Make plans

“We haven’t seen each other for so long! Let’s make plans to see a movie or go for lunch.”

Make a promise

“You should never make a promise if you don’t intend to keep it.”

Make a suggestion

“We really appreciate your business. If there’s anything we can do to improve our website, please feel free to make a suggestion!"

Make a speech

"The president made a speech about equality".

Make a decision

"I need to make a decision about which college to attend."

Make a choice

"She couldn't decide, so she had to make a choice quickly."

Make money

"He started a business to make money."

Make an attempt

"Even though she failed, she made an attempt to pass the exam."

Make an appointment

"Don't forget to make an appointment with the dentist."

Make an offer

"They made an offer on the house they liked."

Make a wish

"Before blowing out the candles, make a wish."

When to use “do”

Unlike “make,” you usually use “do” when you’re referring to the action rather than the result.

Think of things like:

• Physical actions – exercise
• Chores – the laundry, the dishes
• Obligations – taxes, work
• Vague or general things – something, anything, your best

Common collocations with “do”

Just like with “make,” there are certain collocations that only make sense with “do.” Learn these and you’ll be off to a good start.

Do anything

“If you’re not doing anything tomorrow, we should hang out.”

Do your best

“It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. The most important thing is that you do your best.”

Do business

“I love your company and I’m very excited to do business with you!”

"They do business with fifteen countries around the world."

Do housework

"I need to set aside some time to do housework this weekend."

Do the dishes

“I’ll cook dinner if you do the dishes afterward.”

Do exercise

“We’ve been sitting on the couch watching Netflix for three days straight. Let’s get outside and do some exercise.”

Do a favor

“Can you do me a favor and drive me to my doctor’s appointment tomorrow? I’d really appreciate it.”

Do homework

“My sister always does her homework on Friday afternoons so she has the rest of the weekend free.” 

Do something

“Do you feel like doing something adventurous today like going zip lining or rock climbing?”

Do the laundry

“I don’t have any clean clothes left. I guess it’s time to do the laundry.”

Do the shopping

“Didn’t you say you were going to do the shopping this morning? We don’t have any bread or veggies.”

Do work

“This is the fourth break I’ve seen you take today. Please get back to your desk and do your work.” 

Do your job/ Do a good job

"She is doing a good job organizing the conference."

Do the right thing

"Do the right thing and return the lost wallet to its owner."

Do one's hair

"She spends hours in the morning doing her hair."

Do your best

"In every situation, she tries to do her best."

Examples across languages

When people learn English, they often find it tricky to understand when to use "do" and "make." But similar differences exist in other languages too.

For example, in Spanish, "hacer" is like "do," covering actions and tasks, while "crear" is more like "make," focusing on creating or making things.

And in French, "faire" is similar to "do," covering a lot of actions, while "fabriquer" or "créer" are more like "make," emphasizing making or creating things. This shows that language can be tricky no matter which one you're learning.

To make or to do: That is the question

As you can see, knowing the difference between “do” and “make” isn’t always easy.

But if you keep these rules in mind and review the common collocations we discussed, you’ll have no trouble making the right decision and making progress in English!

FAQs

In this section, you will find the most frequently asked questions about the difference between "do" and "make".

What is the difference between the verbs to do and to make?

The difference between "do" and "make" lies in their usage. "Do" typically refers to performing tasks or actions, often routine or necessary, while "make" means that you create something tangible or intangible.

Is there a rule for make and do?

While there's no hard and fast rule, generally, "do" is a verb used for actions or tasks, whereas "make" simply means creating or producing something. Understanding common collocations and contextual usage helps determine which to use.

Is it make or do exercises?

It's typically "do exercises." "Do" is commonly used with activities or tasks, while "make" is more about creation or production. So, you "do" exercises, as they are activities.

Is it making activities or doing activities?

It depends on the context. Generally, "doing activities" is more common, as "do" often refers to actions or tasks. However, "making activities" might imply creating activities or designing them.

Do you do or make a project?

It's more common to say "do a project." "Do" is typically used for tasks or actions, including completing a project. However, "make a project" might be appropriate if the emphasis is on creating or producing something within the project.

Summing up: What’s the difference between “do” and “make”?

By knowing which verbs commonly go together, noticing how they're used in different situations, and applying them practically, learners can feel more comfortable using "do" and "make" correctly.

While both involve actions, "do" encompasses routine tasks, whereas "make" implies creating something tangible or intangible. 

So, when you're unsure whether to use "do" or "make," take your time, think about the meaning of the whole phrase and context, and communicate clearly.