MAKE vs DO — Which One Do You Use? (A2)

MAKE vs DO

Two verbs, one big confusion — solved today

From Sourov’s world: On my very first shift at The Ivy in Sydney, I went up to the floor manager and told him confidently: “I did an effort to arrive early today.” He looked at me for a moment and said very kindly: “We MAKE an effort here, Sourov.” I never forgot it. Coming from Bengali and learning English in Bangladesh, I had used one word for both concepts. English uses two — and knowing which goes with which noun is essential.

📚 Word Focus

There is no perfect rule, but there are useful patterns. MAKE often suggests creating something or producing a result. DO often suggests carrying out an activity or task — especially chores and general work.

CCQ: Do we MAKE or DO the dishes? ✅ DO — it’s a chore/task. Do we MAKE or DO a mistake? ✅ MAKE — a mistake is something produced/created. Do we MAKE or DO progress? ✅ MAKE — this is one to memorise!

💡 Examples in Context

• Can I make a reservation for Friday evening? ✅
• She always does her best, even under pressure. ✅
• I made a mistake on the invoice — sorry! ✅
• He’s been doing research on wine regions for two years. ✅
• We’re making progress with the renovation. ✅
• Could you do me a favour and cover my shift? ✅

✏️ Quick Check

Choose MAKE or DO for each sentence:

1. I need to ______ a decision about the job offer by tomorrow.
2. Can you ______ the housework before your guests arrive?
3. He always ______ an effort to learn five new words every day.
4. They’re planning to ______ business in Southeast Asia next year.
5. Don’t worry — everyone ______ mistakes when learning a language!
6. I’ll ______ you a suggestion: start with the basics.

🗣️ Try It Yourself

Write 4 sentences about your day today — two using MAKE and two using DO. For example: “This morning I made a decision to go for a walk. Then I did the dishes before work. I made some calls in the afternoon. In the evening I did some research online.” Share yours below!