do / make

verb/duː/ · /meɪk/ 🔊 listen

do = general activities, tasks, and duties. make = creating, producing, or causing something. They both translate to "do" in many languages but are NOT interchangeable in English.

📖 Meanings

1do = tasks, activities, work
"do homework, do the dishes, do exercise" — (tasks/duties)
2make = create, produce, cause
"make a cake, make a decision, make money" — (creation/result)
3fixed expressions (just memorise these)
"I made a mistake. Can you do me a favor?" — (common collocations)

🔄 Related

get (meanings) →fewer vs less →affect vs effect →

💬 Common collocations

do: do your best, do the laundry, do businessmake: make a difference, make friends, make sensemake progress / do well
❓ "Can you ___ me a favor?"