The difference between ‘make’ and ‘do’

The verbs ‘do’ and ‘make’ are often confused. The meanings are similar, but there are   differences. 

As with many things in the English language there is no rule that works 100% of the time, but there are some tips that can help you. 

DO 

‘Do’ is usually used for activities that you do often, again and again, like work. It is often associated with duty and responsibility and other things that you must do. 

    Do the dishes.
    Do homework.
    Do chores.
    Do paperwork.

‘To do’ is usually used with activities that do not produce a physical object.

It is also commonly used for general activities that do not produce an object, for example doing something / nothing / anything / everything. 

    I’m not doing anything today.
    I do everything for you!
    I’m busy doing something.
    He’s doing nothing, as usual.

(These activities are all general and do not produce a physical object.)

MAKE

‘Make’ is usually used to describe a creative activity or something you choose to do. You choose to make plans, make friends, and make decisions. You have choices.

    Make a sculpture.
    Make a decision.
    Make friends.
    Make a joke.
    Make money.
    Make dinner. Although we have to make dinner again and again, the use of the verb ‘make’ shows that culturally this is seen as a creative activity (even though you have to eat every day!)

Exceptions

As with everything in English, there are some exceptions! We are sorry, but we all know English is tricky :)Here is a common mistake in English:
 I often do mistakes when I speak English

Correct: I often make mistakes
 This is a standard expression that takes the verb ‘to make’, even though the verb ‘to do’ may seem more appropriate. 

‘Do’ may seem more appropriate because ‘make’ is normally used with a creative activity or one where you have a choice. You probably are not choosing to make a mistake! However, ‘to make a mistake’ is a standard collocation (verb + noun combination) that you need to learn.

So next time, don’t do a mistake; make a mistake!
The Difference Between Do and Make.
Make love, make a mistake, make an appointment, make a mess, make money, make a phone call, make a decision, make a face, make an exception.
Do somebody a favour, do the housework, do business, do harm, do damage, do 200 mph, do good, do bad.

Yuri Gagarin: 108 Minutes That Changed the World

http://www.englishlearner.ru/articles/biography/index_2646.html

This news spread around the world. In the Soviet Union people flooded onto the , at that point there was  anyone on the planet who didn’t know the name of the first man to fly to the  – Yuri Gagarin.

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What Does She Look Like vs. What is She Like?

Distinguishing Between Descriptions 

One of the topics ESL learners really enjoy is describing people. It is a universal need and want to be able to talk about the people close to us.

You’ll want to start out with the easier of the two questions in order to build upon it. Begin with physical description and let practice and arrive comfortably at natural usage before moving on to the more complex issue of describing personality.

Speak English

To become a good English speaker it is important that you practise as much as possible. Here are some tips:

Bruce Willis Goes Gaga

Hugh Laurie

Prepositions of Place & Movement

Basic directions:  
toward, back, left, right
Basic Prepositions of Place and Movement: at, in, on, to, by, under, near, on, over, above, below, off, around, through, towards, away from
Phrasal Verbs:
tuck in, come over, jump off of, come into, get off of, get up from, come down to