ESL Blues | Troubleshooting do and make |
There is often a lot of confusion about the correct use of do and make. This is especially the case for those whose language makes no distinction between these two forms (as in French and Spanish, for example). | |||||||||||||
Correct Forms | Common Errors
I do all the housework, including the cooking and the washing up.
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I |
| I was cold so I made a fire.
I was cold so I |
Here are a few guidelines:
| Make often has the meaning of produce, create, or prepare:
Do is usually the correct word when we are talking about a general activity; that is, we do not specify its nature.
Do is usually the correct word when we are talking about work.
In other cases there are no clear rules. If in doubt, use make. Be aware of the following common expressions:
| Do | Make
|
... business | ... good ... harm ... one's best ... somebody a favor ... well (= succeed)
... a decision | ... a habit of ... a loss ... a mistake ... an attempt ... an effort ... an excuse ... an exception ... an offer ... a noise ... a profit ... a promise ... arrangements ... love, peace, war ... the most of (= take advantage of) |
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