- Collocations are word partnerships that sound natural to native speakers — you must learn them as a unit.
- ‘Do’ collocations usually describe activities, tasks and effects; ‘make’ collocations usually describe producing or creating something.
- Common mistakes: ‘do a mistake’ (wrong) vs. ‘make a mistake’ (correct); ‘make damage’ (wrong) vs. ‘do damage’ (correct).
- The best way to learn collocations is to practise them in context, not just memorise lists.
- These collocations appear regularly in Cambridge B2 First and IELTS examinations.
1. What Are Collocations with ‘Do’?
A collocation is a pair or group of words that native speakers naturally use together. The combination “do your homework” sounds natural; “make your homework” sounds wrong to a native speaker, even though both verbs mean something similar. This is the challenge — and the fascination — of collocations.
The verb do is one of the most common verbs in English, and it forms dozens of fixed collocations. Understanding which words follow ‘do’ (rather than ‘make’, ‘have’, or ‘take’) is one of the hallmarks of a fluent, natural-sounding speaker.
As a general guide, ‘do’ collocations tend to fall into three broad categories:
- Tasks and activities: do homework, do the washing-up, do the ironing, do exercise
- Work and study: do research, do a course, do business, do an exam
- Effects and results: do harm, do damage, do good, do wonders
However, there are many collocations that do not fit neatly into any category, which is why the best approach is to learn them individually in context.
When you meet a new collocation, record the whole phrase in a sentence rather than just the two words. Write: “She did her best to pass the exam.” — not just “do best”. The sentence gives your brain the context it needs to remember the phrase naturally.
2. Top 20 Collocations with ‘Do’
The table below covers the twenty most useful and commonly tested collocations with ‘do’, with clear meanings and natural British English examples.
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| do your best | try as hard as you possibly can | Just do your best — that’s all anyone can ask of you. |
| do research | investigate a topic systematically | She spent three years doing research into climate change. |
| do harm | cause injury or damage to someone or something | Smoking does serious harm to your lungs. |
| do damage | cause physical or other damage | The storm did significant damage to the roof. |
| do good | have a positive effect; be beneficial | Volunteering does a lot of good in the local community. |
| do a favour | do something helpful for someone | Could you do me a favour and post this letter? |
| do homework | complete school or university work at home | He always does his homework before watching television. |
| do the washing-up | wash the dishes after a meal | Can you do the washing-up while I put the children to bed? |
| do the ironing | iron clothes | I usually do the ironing on Sunday evenings. |
| do exercise | take physical exercise | The doctor advised her to do more exercise. |
| do a course | study or complete a training programme | He is doing a course in project management at the moment. |
| do business | engage in commercial activity | It has been a pleasure doing business with your team. |
| do an exam | sit or take an examination | She’s doing her driving exam next week. |
| do wonders | have an amazingly positive effect | A good night’s sleep can do wonders for your mood. |
| do time | serve a prison sentence (informal) | He did time for fraud before turning his life around. |
| do without | manage despite not having something | We could do without all the noise next door. |
| do justice to | represent or treat something fairly and fully | A short summary can’t do justice to such a complex novel. |
| do away with | abolish or get rid of something | The new regulations did away with the old paperwork system. |
| do up | fasten; or renovate a building | Could you do up your coat? It’s freezing outside. |
| do your hair | style or arrange your hair | She does her hair every morning before leaving for work. |
3. Common Mistakes with ‘Do’ Collocations
Even advanced learners make errors with ‘do’ collocations, especially when choosing between ‘do’ and ‘make’. Here are the most frequent mistakes and how to correct them.
Wrong: She did a mistake in the report.
Correct: She made a mistake in the report.
You always make a mistake — never ‘do’ a mistake. This is one of the most common errors in English learners’ writing.
Wrong: The flood made a lot of damage.
Correct: The flood did a lot of damage.
With ‘damage’, ‘harm’, ‘good’ and ‘wonders’, always use do.
Wrong: He made his homework at night.
Correct: He did his homework at night.
Homework, housework, and chores are always paired with do.
Wrong: They made research on consumer behaviour.
Correct: They did research on consumer behaviour.
Research uses do, or more formally carry out or conduct research.
A helpful rule of thumb: if the noun describes a task you perform or an effect you cause, use do. If the noun describes something you produce, create, or decide, use make. But always double-check specific collocations, as there are exceptions.
4. Practice Exercises
Test your knowledge of ‘do’ collocations with the exercises below. Choose the correct verb (do/make) in each sentence, or complete the collocation.
- The chemical spill ___ a great deal of harm to the local river. (Answer: did)
- He always ___ a plan before starting a new project. (Answer: makes)
- Could you ___ me a favour and pick up some milk? (Answer: do)
- The students had to ___ an exam at the end of the course. (Answer: do/sit)
- She ___ a mistake in the final paragraph of her essay. (Answer: made)
- Regular walking can ___ wonders for your mental health. (Answer: do)
- The team has been ___ research into renewable energy for five years. (Answer: doing)
- I need to ___ the ironing — the pile is enormous. (Answer: do)
Fill in the missing word to complete each ‘do’ collocation.
- She always does her ___ before a difficult task. (Answer: best)
- The new policy has done away ___ most of the old forms. (Answer: with)
- A holiday in the mountains would do you a lot of ___. (Answer: good)
- He did ___ for five years before being released early. (Answer: time)
- The article doesn’t do justice ___ the full complexity of the situation. (Answer: to)
Write your own original sentence for each of the following collocations. This is the most effective way to make collocations stick in your long-term memory.
- do business
- do damage
- do a course
- do without
- do up
Practise Collocations for Free
Drill ‘do’ and ‘make’ collocations with LexFizz’s free interactive flash cards and quizzes.
Explore Exercises →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a collocation with ‘do’ in English?
A collocation with ‘do’ is a pair or group of words where ‘do’ combines naturally with a noun or noun phrase to express an action. Examples include ‘do research’, ‘do your best’, ‘do harm’ and ‘do a favour’. These combinations sound natural to native speakers, whereas substituting ‘make’ or another verb often sounds wrong, even if grammatically possible.
What is the difference between ‘do’ and ‘make’ collocations?
In general, ‘do’ is used for actions, activities and tasks (do homework, do the washing-up, do research), while ‘make’ is used for creating or producing something (make a decision, make a mistake, make a suggestion). However, there are many exceptions, so it is best to learn these collocations individually rather than relying solely on a rule.
Is it ‘do a mistake’ or ‘make a mistake’?
The correct collocation is ‘make a mistake’, not ‘do a mistake’. This is one of the most common errors made by learners. Remember: you ‘make’ mistakes, decisions, plans and suggestions, but you ‘do’ homework, research, harm, your best and favours.
Is it ‘do damage’ or ‘make damage’?
The correct expression is ‘do damage’, not ‘make damage’. Similarly, ‘do harm’ and ‘do good’ are the standard collocations. These follow the pattern that ‘do’ combines with words describing effects or impacts on people and things.
What does ‘do your best’ mean?
‘Do your best’ means to make the maximum effort you are capable of in order to achieve something. It implies trying as hard as possible, regardless of the result. Example: ‘I know the exam is difficult, but just do your best.’ It is an encouraging expression used to motivate people before a challenging task.
Can ‘do research’ be used with ‘make’?
No. The correct collocation is ‘do research’, not ‘make research’. You can also say ‘carry out research’ or ‘conduct research’, which are slightly more formal alternatives. All three mean to investigate a topic systematically.
What does ‘do someone a favour’ mean?
‘Do someone a favour’ means to do something helpful or kind for another person. Example: ‘Could you do me a favour and post this letter?’ It can also be used sarcastically: ‘Do yourself a favour and get some sleep.’ Note the British English spelling ‘favour’ (American English: ‘favor’).
What is the difference between ‘do business’ and ‘make business’?
The correct collocation is ‘do business’, not ‘make business’. ‘Do business’ means to engage in commercial activity with someone: ‘It has been a pleasure doing business with you.’ You can also ‘do business in’ a particular city or country, meaning to operate commercially there.
How do I practise ‘do’ collocations effectively?
The most effective way to learn ‘do’ collocations is through repeated exposure in context. Read the collocation in an example sentence, write your own sentence using it, and then practise completing fill-in-the-gap exercises. Grouping collocations by topic (work, health, tasks, effects) also helps with memory. LexFizz flash cards and quiz exercises are a free way to drill these combinations.
Are ‘do collocations’ important for English exams?
Yes, very much so. Collocations with ‘do’ and ‘make’ are frequently tested in Cambridge B1, B2 (First) and C1 (Advanced) examinations, as well as IELTS and TOEFL. Error correction, Use of English gap-fill, and writing tasks all reward accurate collocation knowledge. Confusing ‘do’ and ‘make’ collocations is one of the most common errors examiners see at intermediate level.