Practice
Do and make: choose the right verb
Sign in to saveI need to do my homework, then make dinner. Both verbs can describe work, but they point to different parts of the situation.
Choose do or make by deciding whether the phrase names an activity, duty, or task, or a result, plan, or thing that is created.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I need to do my homework, then make dinner. /aɪ niːd tə duː maɪ ˈhəʊmwɜːk, ðen meɪk ˈdɪnə/
The short answer
Use do for an activity, task, or duty, and use make for something you create, prepare, cause, or arrange. Learn common phrases such as do homework, do the washing up, make a plan, and make a mistake.
Rina did the washing up and made a cup of tea.
Why it works: The washing up is a household task. A cup of tea is prepared or produced.
5 more examples
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I do my homework after dinner.
Homework is work that you carry out, so do is the usual verb.
Not this:I
make dinnerafter work. What changes: Dinner is prepared and produced, so make is the usual verb. -
They made a plan for the weekend.
The speakers create and agree on a plan, so the phrase uses make.
Not this:They
did some exercisebefore lunch. What changes: Exercise is an activity that the speakers perform, so the phrase uses do. -
Leo made a mistake in the email.
Make a mistake is a common English phrase. Learn the whole phrase together.
Not this:Leo
did the shoppingon his way home. What changes: Shopping is an errand or activity, so the phrase uses do. -
Can you make a cup of coffee?
The coffee is prepared, so this familiar request uses make.
Not this:Can you
do me a favor? What changes: A favor is an action for another person, so English uses do. -
We did the washing up after the meal.
Washing up is a household task, so the phrase uses do.
Not this:We
made a reservationfor Saturday. What changes: The speakers arrange a future booking, so the phrase uses make.
Read the full guide
Start by asking what the noun means in this sentence. Is it work that you perform, such as homework or exercise? Do is often the useful verb. Is it a result that comes into existence, such as a plan, a choice, or a meal? Make is often the useful verb. Then check whether the whole phrase is one you have learned before.
Use do for tasks and activities
Do is common when you carry out a task, duty, or activity. It often appears with homework, exercise, work, shopping, and household jobs. The focus is on doing the activity.
I do yoga before breakfast.
Yoga is an activity, so do is the natural verb in this sentence.
Which verb completes the phrase: ___ the laundry?
Use do: I need to do the laundry today.
Use make for results and prepared things
Use make when an action produces, prepares, or brings about something. This includes food, plans, lists, choices, and sounds. The noun often names the result of the action.
Ava made a list before she went to the store.
The list is created by Ava, so the phrase uses made.
Which verb completes the phrase: ___ breakfast?
Use make: He makes breakfast for his family.
Learn common phrases as groups
The general meaning gives you a starting point, but do and make form many fixed partnerships. Learn the verb and noun together. A small list is easier to remember when each phrase has its own sentence.
I made a phone call during my break.
Make a phone call is a familiar phrase, even though a call is also an activity.
We did our best in the interview.
Do your best is another phrase to learn as a complete group.
Notice phrases about mistakes and decisions
English uses make with several nouns that name a result or choice. Make a mistake, make a decision, and make an effort are common examples. Do not choose the verb only from a translation in another language.
The team made a decision after the meeting.
A decision is the result of choosing, so the phrase uses make.
How do you say that someone chose the wrong answer?
Say: She made a mistake.
Use the right tense with the phrase
After you choose do or make, change the verb to match the time. Do becomes did in the simple past. Make becomes made in the simple past. The noun phrase stays together while the verb changes.
I did the cleaning yesterday.
Did is the past form of do, and cleaning is the task.
I made a reservation yesterday.
Made is the past form of make, and the reservation is the arranged result.
Check the noun before you speak
Pause for one second before you choose the verb. If the noun is a task or activity, try do. If it is a thing, plan, result, or change that someone creates, try make. Then compare your phrase with the ones you already know.
Please do the dishes before you leave.
The dishes refer to a household job in this phrase, so do is correct.
Please make a note of the address.
The note is created, so make is correct.
Before you go
Remember this
Use do for many tasks, duties, and activities. Use make for many results, plans, prepared things, and changes that you cause. When the choice feels uncertain, check the noun and learn the full phrase with an example.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Do and make: choose the right verb"
What is the basic difference between do and make?
Use do for many tasks, duties, and activities, such as homework or the laundry. Use make for many things that are created, prepared, caused, or arranged, such as a meal, a plan, or a list. The noun after the verb usually gives you the first clue.
I do my homework after dinner.
Do I say do homework or make homework?
Say do homework. Homework is work that a learner carries out, so English uses do. This is a common word partnership, so remember it as the full phrase do homework rather than choosing each word separately.
I make dinner after work.
Why do we say make a mistake?
Make a mistake is a common English phrase. A mistake is treated as the result of an action, but the most useful approach is to learn the complete phrase. Use made a mistake when you talk about the past.
They made a plan for the weekend.
Can I use do with housework?
Yes. English commonly uses do with household tasks, including do the dishes, do the laundry, and do the cleaning. These phrases refer to work that you carry out. Learn each phrase with its noun because the verb is part of the usual pattern.
They did some exercise before lunch.
How can I remember whether to use do or make?
First ask whether the noun is an activity or duty, then try do. If it is a thing, plan, result, or arrangement that someone produces, try make. Keep a notebook of full phrases and add one short example for each new phrase.
Leo made a mistake in the email.