To make vs to do en inglés
Entender la gramática es clave para entender un idioma. Trucos sobre la gramática inglesa con Gymglish, aprende inglés online.
PRUEBA TU NIVEL DE INGLÉS
Prueba gratuita, sin obligación de compra
4,7 en App Store, Play Store y Trustpilot.
Más de 8.000.000 de usuarios en todo el mundo
To make vs to do
El verbo 'hacer' se puede traducir tanto por to do, como por to make. ¿Cómo saber cuando usar uno o el otro? Es difícil establecer una regla: to do se usa con unas palabras, y to make se usa con otras, formando expresiones que es mejor memorizar:
to do the dishes
lavar los platos
to make a suggestion
hacer una sugerencia
to do the housework
hacer las tareas domésticas
to make a mistake
cometer un error
to do a favor
hacer un favor
to make a noise
hacer un ruido
to do one's best
hacerlo lo mejor posible
to make an effort
hacer un esfuerzo
to do one's duty
hacer su deber
to make a profit
obtener una ganancia, generar beneficios
to do the shopping
ir de compras
to make an agreement
concluir un acuerdo
to do business
hacer negocios
to make an appointment
cuadrar una cita
Tendencias:
• To do se usa principalmente para los trabajos, tareas, etc...:
• To do se usa principalmente para los trabajos, tareas, etc...:
Did you do your homework? ¿Has hecho los deberes?
Kevin did not do any work today. Kevin no ha trabajado nada hoy.
• To make se usa principalmente para las creaciones, las construcciones, las producciones, etc...:
I'll make a cake for her birthday. Voy a hacer una tarta para su cumpleaños.
Bruno made a little house for Stink in the garden. Bruno hizo una pequeña casa para Stink en su jardín.
Nota: To make a decision en lugar que to take a decision. Aunque to take a decision existe en inglés (sobre todo en el inglés británico), esta construcción proviene del francés, y se utiliza muy raramente (y expresa una idea de elección entre varias decisiones a tomar). Por lo tanto, utilice principalmente to MAKE a decision, que es el verdadero equivalente de 'tomar una decisión':
I made the decision to sell the company. Tomé la decisión de vender la compañía.
After interviewing all the applicants, we took the decision to hire the second candidate. Después de ver a todos los candidatos, decidimos contratar al segundo de ellos.
Algunas expresiones útiles:
I can't make it to the meeting. No podré ir a la reunión.
I made it! (literalmente 'Lo he hecho') ¡Lo logré!
Well done! ¡Bien hecho! I would like my steak well done. Yo quiero mi carne bien hecha.
Make sure it gets done. Asegúrate de que eso quede hecho.
Ejercicio 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.
Ejercicio 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
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
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.
Ejercicio 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!
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!
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.
Ejercicio 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.
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.
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).
Ejercicio 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.
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.
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.
¿Todavía tienes dificultades con 'To make vs to do'? Mejora tu inglés con Gymglish: ¡prueba ahora nuestras lecciones de inglés gratis y recibe un certificado de nivel gratis!
Lo que dicen nuestros usuarios:
Descubre otras reglas gramaticales. Mejora tu inglés y prueba Gymglish, cursos en inglés en línea.
