Quick answer: Make is used for creating, constructing, or producing something: make a cake, make a decision, make a mistake. Do is used for activities and tasks: do homework, do exercise, do the dishes. Many collocations must be memorised — this page gives you the most important ones.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Core Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| make | verb | to create, produce, or cause something to exist | She made a delicious cake. |
| do | verb | to carry out an action, task, or activity | He does his homework after dinner. |
When to Use Make
Use make when the action involves creating, producing, constructing, or causing something that results in a product, outcome, or change. Ask yourself: does something come into existence as a result?
Can you make me a cup of tea?
She made a big mistake.
They made an announcement this morning.
He makes a lot of noise when he cooks.
When to Use Do
Use do when the action involves performing, carrying out, or completing a task or activity — especially chores, work, or general actions. Ask yourself: is this an activity being performed rather than something being created?
I need to do the shopping.
She is doing a course in graphic design.
They did a great job on the project.
Can you do me a favour?
Make Collocations
| Make + noun | Meaning / note |
|---|---|
| make a decision | choose between options |
| make a mistake | do something wrong |
| make a plan | organise something in advance |
| make a phone call | call someone |
| make a noise | produce sound |
| make an effort | try hard |
| make a difference | have a positive effect |
| make progress | improve / advance |
| make money | earn / produce income |
| make a suggestion | propose an idea |
| make friends | form friendships |
| make a promise | commit to doing something |
| make an excuse | give a reason (often false) |
| make a complaint | formally object |
Do Collocations
| Do + noun | Meaning / note |
|---|---|
| do homework | complete school/university work |
| do the dishes | wash up after a meal |
| do exercise / sport | be physically active |
| do research | investigate a topic |
| do a course | study or train in something |
| do someone a favour | help someone |
| do damage | cause harm |
| do business | trade or deal commercially |
| do your hair | style / arrange your hair |
| do your best | try as hard as possible |
| do the housework / chores | clean and maintain a home |
| do a test / exam | take/sit an examination |
| do well / badly | perform at a level |
Tricky Ones to Memorise
Some collocations are fixed by convention and cannot be guessed from the rules above:
| Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
| make a decision | |
| do research | |
| make a speech | |
| do business | |
| make a profit / loss | |
| do an exercise | |
| make a bed | |
| do the bed (= make/tidy it) — regional variation | context-dependent |
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — "make research"
✗ Scientists make research into the disease.
✓ Scientists do research into the disease.
Mistake 2 — "do a mistake"
✗ I did a big mistake yesterday.
✓ I made a big mistake yesterday.
Mistake 3 — "make exercise"
✗ She makes exercise every morning.
✓ She does exercise every morning.
Mistake 4 — "do a decision"
✗ We need to do a decision soon.
✓ We need to make a decision soon.
Mini-Quiz
- Grammar Quiz — choose make or do in context.
- Flash Cards — drill make/do collocations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between make and do?
Make is used when you create, produce, or cause something to come into existence: make a cake, make a mistake, make a decision, make money. Do is used when you carry out an activity, task, or chore: do homework, do the dishes, do research, do exercise. A useful test: if something is produced or results from the action, lean towards make. If it is a general activity or task without a concrete product, lean towards do.
Is there a simple rule for make vs do?
A general rule: make when something is created or produced (make a plan, make a noise, make friends), do when an activity is performed (do homework, do the washing, do business). However, many collocations are fixed and must be memorised — there is no rule that covers all cases. Learning high-frequency collocations in groups (all the things you "make" vs all the things you "do") is the most efficient approach.
Why do we say "make a decision" not "do a decision"?
A decision is an outcome — something you create in your mind. Once you decide, a decision exists that did not exist before. This is why we use make (to create/produce) rather than do (to perform a task). Similarly: make a plan (create a plan), make a suggestion (produce a suggestion), make a promise (create a commitment). These are all outcomes being brought into existence.
Why do we say "do research" not "make research"?
"Do research" is the fixed collocation in English. Research is treated as an ongoing activity — you do it (carry it out) rather than create it. Similarly: do an experiment, do a survey, do a study. In some other languages (French: "faire une recherche"; Spanish: "hacer una investigación"), the equivalent of make is used, which is why learners from those language backgrounds often say "make research." In English, always use do research.
What are the most important make collocations to learn?
High-priority make collocations: make a decision, make a mistake, make a plan, make a phone call, make a noise, make an effort, make a difference, make progress, make money, make a suggestion, make friends, make a promise, make an excuse, make a complaint, make a speech, make a profit/loss, make an appointment, make a bed, make a cup of tea/coffee. Learn these as chunks — "make a ___" — and they will become automatic.
What are the most important do collocations to learn?
High-priority do collocations: do homework, do the dishes, do exercise, do research, do a course, do someone a favour, do damage, do business, do your hair, do your best, do the housework, do a test/exam, do well/badly, do the shopping, do the laundry, do the ironing, do your job. Many "household tasks" and "work/study activities" take do: think of them as ongoing processes rather than created products.
Do both make and do mean the same thing in some contexts?
Sometimes the boundary blurs. "Make a bed" (arrange the sheets) and "do the bed" are both used regionally, though "make the bed" is more standard. "Make a test" and "do a test" also both exist, though "do a test" (sit/take a test) is more common for students, and "make a test" (create a test) is used by teachers. Context and convention usually make the preferred form clear. When in doubt, check a learner's collocations dictionary.
Is "make" or "do" used with sports and exercise?
Do is used for general exercise and activities: do exercise, do yoga, do aerobics, do judo, do gymnastics. Play is used for competitive sports and games: play football, play tennis, play chess. Go is used for activities ending in -ing: go swimming, go jogging, go cycling. Make is not normally used with sports. The most common learner error: "make sport" — this is always wrong. Say "do sport" or "play sport."
How do I learn make vs do collocations efficiently?
The most effective method is to learn collocations in themed groups rather than trying to apply a rule. Create two columns: MAKE (produce/create) and DO (perform/carry out). Add new collocations to the correct column as you encounter them. Use flash cards to drill make/do + noun pairs. Pay special attention to the tricky pairs (make research → do research; do a mistake → make a mistake) and review them repeatedly until the correct form feels natural.
Is there a difference between "make" and "do" in British and American English?
The core make/do rules are the same in British and American English. Some minor differences exist: British English uses "do the washing up" (wash dishes); American English more commonly says "do the dishes." Both say "do laundry." "Make love" is standard in both varieties. In very informal American English, "make" is occasionally used in constructions British speakers would always use "do" for (e.g., "make a u-turn"), but these are minor edge cases and not worth worrying about at most levels.