Working with Verb Collocations — Make and do

Do we say make a dream, do a dream or develop a dream (做夢, 作夢 or 發

夢)?

What is the difference between make and do?

If you put this query to a teacher, the chances are that s/he will reply
something like "It's a question of collocation". While this may not seem very
helpful, it is nevertheless true.

Collocation (in linguistics) refers to expressions in which individual words

habitually go together. In other words, the verb make goes with some words
and the verb do with other words.

• We made an agreement (NOT did an agreement)

• I did my homework (NOT made my homework)

So what can you do to help you learn which of the two verbs is used with which
other words? One of the best solutions is to try to memorize the common fixed
expressions that use the words. You could make two lists in your vocabulary
book (if you've got one!) and then refer to them when you are not sure.
Basically, the more you read and listen, and indeed, the more contact you
have with English, the more you should remember.

Apart from this, there are some rules of usage for make and do that can help
you:

Do is used to describe an action without saying exactly what the action is:

• I'm going to do something that you won't believe!

• We did some things around the house on the weekend.

Do is used to talk about work and jobs:

• I didn't do any work today.

• My mother usually does the housework during the week, but my father
does most of the chores on the weekend.
• Have you done your homework?

© Copyright 2005 ILC, CUHK 1 Prepared by Bruce K C Ma

Make is used to speak about building, constructing, producing, creating etc.
There is usually an end-product that comes with it.

• Peter made a tree house for his children.

• Who made this lovely birthday cake?
• We make our own yoghurt.

Make Vs Do – Common Fixed Expressions

Use DO:
To do your homework
To do the dishes
To do the laundry
To do your best
To do the things your have always wanted to do
To do your nails and hair
To do everything over again
To do that
To do your chores or housework
To do the ironing, washing, cooking, etc.
To do a job
To do what you can
To do time

Use MAKE:
To make an apology
To make a cake
To make a difference
To make a dress
To make a fuss
To make a goal, a basket, a touchdown, a homerun, a score
To make a grade or make the grade
To make a list
To make a mistake
To make plans
To make a profit
To make a report

© Copyright 2005 ILC, CUHK 2 Prepared by Bruce K C Ma

 To make an effort
To make believe (pretend)
To make breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, etc.
To make do (do something with what you have)
To make it (be able to attend)
To make it (succeed)
To make it worthwhile or worth your time
To make the best of a bad situation
To make time (find time to do something)
To make up (do something you have missed, to not be angry at
someone anymore)
To make your bed

Task

He felt very tired; he __________ himself a cup of tea.

“Where is Peter? He was here a while ago.”

“I saw him __________ for the bus terminus.”

At times of economic downturn, everyone has to work hard to __________

ends meet.

He hasn’t taken action yet. I wonder if he will __________ good his promise.

You don’t have to say anything at the ceremony. The secretary will
__________ all the talking for you.

He excels in every subject in the teacher education programme. We believe he

will __________ a very good teacher.

Smoking will __________ great harm to your lungs.

He was __________ good deeds throughout his life.

We need to __________ up for the loss of time. We’d better start work now.

I hate to __________ the washing-up after dinner.

© Copyright 2005 ILC, CUHK 3 Prepared by Bruce K C Ma

Web Resources

For more information on do and make, as well as lists of common fixed

expressions and quizzes, see the web sites below:

Grammar Game – Make and do

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/words/activities/makedo02.html

Common fixed expressions

http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/teacher/Make%20vs.%20Do.htm

Quizzes

http://www.eslpartyland.com/quiz%20center/makedo.htm

http://www.quia.com/jq/17214.html

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/makedo.htm

© Copyright 2005 ILC, CUHK 4 Prepared by Bruce K C Ma