VERBS OF

SIMILAR
MEANING
 PLAY, DO AND GO
◦ Play is used with sports that have teams, rules and competitions.
◦ When I was young we played football just outside our house in the street.
◦ Go is used with activities where the activity is in the -ing form.
◦ We went camping by the lake last summer.
◦ For all other recreational activities we use do.
◦ All young children should be encouraged to do gymnastics.
 DO AND MAKE
◦ Use do to express daily activities or jobs. Do is also used when
speaking about things in general.
◦ Both my mother and father do the housework.
◦ Use make to express an activity that creates something tangible.
Make is also frequently used in expressions related to money.
◦ I made a cup of tea. Would you like some?
DO AND MAKE
DO MAKE
◦ good ◦ a decision
◦ a favour ◦ a mistake
◦ business ◦ a profit
◦ homework ◦ a promise
◦ the dishes ◦ fun of someone
◦ your hair ◦ up your mind
 SPEAK AND TALK
◦ Speak tends to be used for one-sided communications. It is
more formal.
◦ He spoke about the importance of taking exercise and having a
good diet.
◦ Talk implies a conversation or discussion between two or more
people.
◦ I hope I can meet you to talk about my plans for the company.
SAY AND TELL
◦ Tell is used only to instruct or inform. (You tell someone
something)
◦ Can you tell me what happened?
◦ Say is used to express opinions. Say is also used for exact
quotes. (You say something to someone)
◦ They say that you should drink eight glasses of water a day.
BUY AND PAY FOR
◦ The focus of buy is the object purchased.
◦ Jack said he’s going to buy a house next year.
◦ The focus of pay for is the money used.
◦ You can pay for a new cell phone with cash or a credit card.