To make vs to do: How and When to Use in English

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To make vs to do

The verbs to do and to make are sometimes translated by only one verb in other languages. When do we know when to use each one? It is difficult to establish a rule: to do is used with some words, to make with others, forming expressions which just need to be memorized:

to do the dishes
to make a suggestion
to do the housework
to make a mistake
to do a favor
to make a noise
to do one's best
to make an effort
to do one's duty
to make a profit
to do the shopping
to make an agreement
to do business
to make an appointment
General trends:
• To do is mainly used for jobs, tasks, etc...:
Did you do your homework?
Kevin did not do any work today.
• To make is mainly used for creations, constructions, productions...:
I'll make a cake for her birthday.
Bruno made a little house for Stink in the garden.
Note: To make a decision rather than to take a decision. Although to take a decision exists in English (mainly in British English), this construction comes from French and is rarely used (it expresses an idea of a choice between various options). Therefore, to MAKE a decision is mainly used:
I made the decision to sell the company.
After interviewing all the applicants, we took the decision to hire the second candidate.
Some useful expressions:
I can't make it to the meeting. I won't be able to come to the meeting.
I made it! I succeeded!
Well done! Good job! I would like my steak well done. I would like my steak cooked thoroughly.
Make sure it gets done. Ensure that the task is completed.
Exercise 1
Every morning, when she arrives at work, Polly the coffee. During the day, she takes many calls for Bruno, and appointments for him. Then, finally, when she goes home, she has all the housework! Life sure is tough for a personal assistant.
Every morning, when she arrives at work, Polly makes 1 the coffee. During the day, she takes many calls for Bruno, and makes 2 appointments for him. Then, finally, when she goes home, she has to do 3 all the housework! Life sure is tough for a personal assistant.
1 makes: This is the best choice here. One 'makes' coffee. We often use 'make' when referring to something that is created. Example: I'm making you a cake for your birthday, Bruno.
1 does: This is incorrect. One does not 'do' coffee.
2 makes: This is the best choice here. One 'makes' appointments. Example: I need to make an appointment with the doctor.
2 does: This is incorrect. One does not 'do' appointments.
3 to do: This is the best choice here. One 'does' the housework. We often use 'do' when referring to household chores. For example: 'do the dishes', 'do the laundry', etc.
3 to make: This is incorrect. One does not 'make' the housework.
3 do: When we use 'have' to express necessity, it must be followed by the full infinitive (to do).
3 make: When we use 'have' to express necessity, it must be followed by the full infinitive (to make). Also, one does not 'make' the housework.
Exercise 2
Bruno: Hello, Icarus. Have you the work I asked of you?
Icarus: Uhm. I have been unable to complete your requested task, sir.
Bruno: And why is that?
Icarus: Well, because Kevin me balance his checkbook, again.

*to balance one's checkbook: to verify one's checking account
Bruno: Hello, Icarus. Have you done 1 the work I asked of you?
Icarus: Uhm. I have been unable to complete your requested task, sir.
Bruno: And why is that?
Icarus: Well, because Kevin made 2 me balance his checkbook, again.

*to balance one's checkbook: to verify one's checking account
1 done: We use the verb 'to do' when talking about 'work'. This is the best choice here.
1 made: 'To make' is not used with 'work'. One 'does' work and does not 'make' it.
2 made: We use the verb 'to make' in constructions such as this. 'To make someone do something'.
2 did: We cannot use the verb 'to do' in this construction. One makes somebody do something.
Exercise 3
Fill in the blanks below with either 'to make' or 'to do'. Remember to use the correct form of the verb!

Kevin: Hey, Susie, can you me a favor?
Susie: Sure, Kevin. I'll my best.
Kevin: Great! I want a 'vichyssoise' for some dinner guests tonight and -
Susie: What's 'bitchy sauce'?
Kevin: 'Vichyssoise'! It's a French dish.
Susie: No, it's not. I think you a mistake.
Kevin: Yes, it is a real dish.
Susie: No, it's not.
Kevin: Yes, it is.
Susie: No, it's not.
Kevin: Ugh! Forget it. I have work anyway. Bye!
Fill in the blanks below with either 'to make' or 'to do'. Remember to use the correct form of the verb!

Kevin: Hey, Susie, can you do 1 me a favor?
Susie: Sure, Kevin. I'll do 2 my best.
Kevin: Great! I want to make 3 a 'vichyssoise' for some dinner guests tonight and -
Susie: What's 'bitchy sauce'?
Kevin: 'Vichyssoise'! It's a French dish.
Susie: No, it's not. I think you made 4 a mistake.
Kevin: Yes, it is a real dish.
Susie: No, it's not.
Kevin: Yes, it is.
Susie: No, it's not.
Kevin: Ugh! Forget it. I have work to do 5 anyway. Bye!
1 do: In English, we 'do a favor', not 'make a favor'. 'To do someone a favor' is to provide a service for them or help them in some way. In English, the verb 'to do' generally refers to chores and tasks: to do the dishes, to do one's homework.
2 do: We say 'do my best' and not 'make my best'. In English, the verb 'to do' generally refers to chores and tasks: to do the dishes, to do one's homework. The verb 'to make' generally refers to creations: I'll make a cake, please make a list.
3 to make: We say 'to make food' and not 'to do food'. The verb 'to make' generally refers to creations: I'll make a cake, please make a list.
4 made: We say 'to make a mistake' and not 'do a mistake'. The verb 'to make' generally refers to creations: I'll make a cake, please make a list.
5 to do: We say 'to do work' and not 'to make work'. In English, the verb 'to do' generally refers to chores and tasks: to do the dishes, to do one's homework.
Exercise 4
Fill in the blanks below with either 'To Make', 'To Do' or 'To Take'
Remember to conjugate the verbs correctly

Luna: Before Bruno his speech, could I an announcement?
Polly: I guess we have a few extra minutes. Go ahead, Luna.
Luna: Thank you. I have some research, and I have an important decision.
Polly: And...?
Luna: And that's all I can say right now. I'll keep you guys posted. Thank you for your time and attention.
Fill in the blanks below with either 'To Make', 'To Do' or 'To Take'
Remember to conjugate the verbs correctly

Luna: Before Bruno makes 1 his speech, could I make 2 an announcement?
Polly: I guess we have a few extra minutes. Go ahead, Luna.
Luna: Thank you. I have done 3 some research, and I have made 4 an important decision.
Polly: And...?
Luna: And that's all I can say right now. I'll keep you guys posted. Thank you for your time and attention.
1 makes: In English, one 'makes a speech', which means to deliver a speech. This verb should be conjugated in the third person form of the simple present tense.
2 make: In English, one 'makes an announcement'. Luna is asking permission to say something during the meeting. Here we use the infinitive form of the verb (without 'to) which follows the auxiliary 'could'.
3 done: In English one 'does research'. In this construction, we use the present perfect form of the verb 'to do'. The auxiliary 'have' which precedes the verb indicates the use of the present perfect, and so we use the past participle of the verb to complete the construction correctly. We use the present perfect tense to indicate an action which took place at an unspecified time in the past.
4 made: In English, one 'makes a decision'. The verb 'to make' is used to signal that a person has decided something. The present perfect tense is required following the auxiliary 'have'. The present perfect tense is used to signal an action which took place at an unspecified time in the past, and is formed with a form of the auxiliary 'have' + the past participle of the verb (to make).
Exercise 5
Fill in the blanks below with either 'to make' or 'to do'.
Remember to conjugate the verbs correctly

Bruno: Have you any progress on the new perfumes, Horatio?
Horatio: No, but I've the housework.
Bruno: That doesn't any sense.
Horatio: Sorry. I suppose I have a mistake.
Fill in the blanks below with either 'to make' or 'to do'.
Remember to conjugate the verbs correctly

Bruno: Have you made 1 any progress on the new perfumes, Horatio?
Horatio: No, but I've done 2 the housework.
Bruno: That doesn't make 3 any sense.
Horatio: Sorry. I suppose I have made 4 a mistake.
1 made: 'To make progress' is an expression which is formed with the verb 'to make'. We use the present perfect tense because this action occurred at an unknown or unspecified point in the past. The present perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb 'to have' plus the past participle of the main verb (made).
2 done: In English, one 'does the housework'. We use the verb 'to do' to form this construction. 'To do the housework' is to clean up around the house: sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, etc. We use the present perfect tense here following the auxiliary construction 'I've' (I have). Using this tense suggests that Horatio did the housework at an unspecified time in the past.
3 make: The construction 'to make sense' is formed with the verb 'to make'. The expression 'that makes sense' indicates that something (an explanation, an argument) is logical or sound. We use the infinitive form of the verb 'to make' (without 'to') following the auxiliary 'doesn't'. Bruno is expressing that Horatio's comment that he has done the housework is 'strange' or 'illogical'.
4 made: This is correct. We use the present perfect tense (which uses the past participle form of the verb, 'made') because this action occurred at an unknown or unspecified point in the past.

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