Collocations with MAKE and DO (B1)
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B1 ⏱ 5 minutes
Collocations with MAKE and DO
The Rule of Thumb
DO → usually about tasks, activities, or work: homework, exercise, research.
But there are many exceptions — the best approach is to learn each collocation individually.
MAKE collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| make a mistake | Everyone makes mistakes when learning a language. |
| make a decision | It took me a year to make the decision to move to France. |
| make progress | My students are making great progress this term. |
| make an effort | Please make an effort to arrive on time. |
DO collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| do homework | Have you done your homework for tomorrow? |
| do exercise | I try to do exercise every morning before class. |
| do research | She is doing research into Creole languages in Réunion. |
| do damage | The storm did serious damage to the coast. |
| do a favour | Could you do me a favour and proofread this email? |
Common Errors to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Correct ✅ |
|---|---|
| do a mistake | make a mistake |
| make homework | do homework |
| do a decision | make a decision |
| make research | do research |
| do progress | make progress |
Practice Task: MAKE or DO? (10 sentences)
Fill in the blank with make or do in the correct form.
- She ________ a big mistake on the exam.
- Did you ________ your homework last night?
- He needs to ________ a decision by Friday.
- They are ________ research into ocean temperatures.
- Please ________ me a favour — can you call him?
- I’m trying to ________ more exercise this year.
- The children are ________ great progress in reading.
- The accident ________ a lot of damage to the car.
- You must ________ an effort to speak English outside class.
- Can you ________ the dishes after dinner?
Show answers
- made
- do
- make
- doing
- do
- do
- making
- did / caused
- make
- do
Independent project. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
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