How to use "make" and "do" in English

It can be difficult to know when to use "make" and when to use "do". Here are some tips to help you make the right choice.

We use "make" for more creative activities:

"She makes her own clothes."

"He made a beautiful hat for the wedding."

We also use "make" to describe functions of speech – what we are doing when we speak:

You make
… an offer (I'll pay you $500 for your car)
… an appointment (Can we meet at 9 am?)
… an arrangement (Let's meet at the station.)
… a promise (I'll help you with this photocopying.)
… a threat (If you do that again, I'll tell him.)
… a compromise
… a suggestion
… a promise
… a mistake
… a decision
… a point
… a complaint
… an excuse

There are also some "fixed expressions" with "make":

"They made friends when they were at primary school."

"He made fun of her new hairstyle."

Other expressions are:

… make a fuss
… make a fortune
… make money
… make a profit / a loss
… make a journey
… make an effort
… make progress
… make a mess
… make a telephone call
… make a choice

One expression that uses either "do" or "make" is:
make a deal / do a deal (I'll do it if you help me.)

Using do

We use "do" to refer to jobs, or responsibilties. These are often routine things, which do not involve much creativity or fun:

"I do the shopping once a week."

"He does the gardening every weekend."

"We have to do a lot of work on the house."

You also do:
… your homework
… the housework
… a job
… the paperwork
… an exam

There are some fixed expressions that you can learn which use "do":

"She does a lot of good in the community."

"This chemical can do a lot of harm."

"She always does favours for her colleagues." (Do someone a favour – help someone)

Other expressions are:

… do something well / badly
… do your best
… do something right / wrong
… do the minimum / the maximum
… do damage

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22 comments on “How to use "make" and "do" in English”

Naty

what does it means "make more"?
as for example ¿Will I make more at this position?

It means "earn more", as in "make more money".

hasnaa

which is correct I want to take the exam or I wand to do exam

It should be "I want to take the exam".

Claudia de la Torre

How do you say, make exercise or do exercise?

Clare

Claudia de la Torre » Do exercise.

Mark

Make a presentation or do a presentation?

Clare

Mark » I think probably both are OK, though "make a presentation" sounds more creative and formal than "do a presentation" which could be a more routine sort of thing.

He's making a presentation to the Board (= maybe it's one he's spent a lot of time on)
He's doing a presentation about the new safety regulations (= maybe it's a presentation he does every year)

Becky

It´s also probably more common to say "give a presentation" as in he is giving a presentation about global warming…

Vantey

is it possible to say, "do the mess " ?

Clare

No, we say "make a mess".

UZAIR

this site is very useful for those peoples who want to learn english

karthick

'make a model ' is right ? or 'do a model' is right?

Clare

I'd say "make a model".

rohana

Can we say " I do English"

Clare

I suppose you could if you're talking about all the subjects you do at school. Otherwise say something like "I'm learning English" or "I'm studying English".

sara

is this right sentence'I will make you see?

Clare

Yes, correct.

robson

When do I use miss and lose?

Clare

You miss someone (they aren't with you and you wish they were) and you miss the train / plane / bus (you didn't get there in time=.
You lose something when you don't have it any more and you can't find it.

g. qadir

Please let me clear if I say 1. "please do come" what would be exact meaning of that.

Clare

When we use "do" in the present tense with another verb, we're emphasising something. "Please do come!" means "Please please please come!"

sara

do ones living? make a sum? do ones best?mahe oneslef at home ?these four is right?

Clare

Make a living
Do your sums
Do your best
Make yourself at home

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