To make vs to do en anglais : grammaire anglaise / définition

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To make vs to do

Le verbe 'faire' est tantôt traduit par le verbe to do, tantôt par le verbe to make. Comment savoir quand utiliser l'un ou l'autre ? Difficile d'établir une règle, to do s'accorde avec certains mots, et to make avec d'autres, formant des expressions à mémoriser :

to do the dishes
faire la vaisselle
to make a suggestion
faire une suggestion
to do the housework
faire le ménage
to make a mistake
faire une erreur
to do a favor
faire une faveur
to make a noise
faire un bruit
to do one's best
faire de son mieux
to make an effort
faire un effort
to do one's duty
faire son devoir
to make a profit
faire des bénéfices
to do the shopping
faire les courses
to make an agreement
conclure un accord
to do business
faire des affaires
to make an appointment
prendre un rendez-vous
Tendances :
• To do est davantage utilisé pour les travaux, tâches, etc... :
Did you do your homework? As-tu fait tes devoirs?
Kevin did not do any work today. Kevin n'a fait aucun travail aujourd'hui.
• To make est davantage utilisé pour les créations, constructions, productions... :
I'll make a cake for her birthday. Je ferai un gâteau pour son anniversaire.
Bruno made a little house for Stink in the garden. Bruno a fait (fabriquer) une petite maison pour Stink dans le jardin.
Note : To make a decision plutôt que to take a decision. Même si to take a decision existe en anglais (en particulier britannique), cette construction provient d'un gallicisme ; elle n'est que très rarement employée (et reflète plutôt l'idée de choix parmi plusieurs décisions à prendre). Ainsi utilisez plutôt to MAKE a decision, véritable équivalent du français 'prendre une décision' :
I made the decision to sell the company. J'ai pris la décision de vendre l'entreprise.
After interviewing all the applicants, we took the decision to hire the second candidate. Après avoir reçu tout le monde en entretien, nous avons pris la décision d'engager le deuxième candidat.
Quelques expressions utiles :
I can't make it to the meeting. Je ne pourrai pas venir à la réunion.
I made it! (littéralement 'Je l'ai fait') J'y suis arrivé!
Well done! Bravo ! I would like my steak well done. Je voudrais un steak bien cuit.
Make sure it gets done. Assurez-vous que ce soit fait.
Exercice 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.
Exercice 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.
Exercice 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.
Exercice 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).
Exercice 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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