Make vs Do Collocations
Common expressions with make and do: make a decision, do homework
When to Use Make vs Do Collocations
- •MAKE for creating/producing: make a cake, make a mistake, make a decision.
- •MAKE for communication: make a promise, make a suggestion, make a complaint.
- •DO for tasks/work: do homework, do the dishes, do your best.
- •DO for general activities: do exercise, do business, do research.
- •Fixed expressions: make money (not do money), do a favor (not make a favor).
How to Form Make vs Do Collocations
Affirmative (+)
Make/Do + noun (collocation)
Negative (-)
Don't make/do + noun
Question (?)
Did you make/do...?
💡 These are collocations - fixed word combinations that must be memorized.
Examples of Make vs Do Collocations
✓I need to make a decision.
✗I need to do a decision.
Make for decisions, choices, plans.
✓She does her homework every day.
✗She makes her homework every day.
Do for tasks and work.
✓He made a lot of money.
✗He did a lot of money.
Make money is a fixed expression.
Common Mistakes with Make vs Do Collocations
💡 Practice Tips for Make vs Do Collocations
- • MAKE: food (make dinner), communication (make a call), creation (make a plan).
- • DO: housework (do laundry), work (do a job), activities (do exercise).
- • Learn collocations as chunks, not individual words.
- • When unsure, check a collocations dictionary.
Quick Quiz
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