Do VS Make | The Complete Guide (Rules, Examples, Exercises)

Learning English can be tricky, especially when it comes to verbs that seem similar but serve different purposes. One of the most common confusions is Do VS Make. Both verbs are used to describe actions, yet they follow distinct rules, and combine with specific collocations that can change their meaning entirely.

In simple terms, use “do” for tasks, duties, and general activities, while “make” is used for creating, producing, or causing something, like a result, plan, decision, or even a noise. Understanding these distinctions is crucial not only for speaking and writing correctly but also for sounding natural and confident in English.

This guide will take you step by step through the core meanings, differences, high-frequency examples, and common exceptions of “do” and “make.” You’ll also find practical exercises with answer keys to test your knowledge, plus tips, tricks, and collocations that native speakers use every day. You’ll be able to confidently choose between “do” and “make” in any situation.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or English Grammar enthusiast, this complete guide is your go-to resource to master one of the most frequently misused verb pairs in English.

Do and Make – Core Meanings

What “Do” Means (Main Verb vs. Auxiliary)

“Do” is used to perform or engage in an activity or task. Examples:

• do homework
• do the dishes
• do yoga

As an auxiliary verb

“Do” helps form questions, negatives, and for emphasis. Examples:

• Do you know the answer?
• I don’t mind helping you.
• I do agree with your point.

What “Make” Means (Create/Produce/Cause)

Create or produce something:

• make a cake
• make a sandwich
• make a movie

Cause or lead to something:

• make a mess
• make an error
• make a noise
• make someone smile

Plans, decisions, or arrangements:

• make a plan
• make a decision
• make arrangements

Money or benefits

• make money
• make a profit
• make the most of your time

Differences Between Do and Make (Rules of Thumb)

Use “Do” for…

Work & study tasks:

• do homework, do research, do a course

Routine chores:

• do the laundry, do the dishes, do the cleaning

Non-specific activities:

• do something, do anything, do everything, do nothing

Health, fitness & beauty:

• do exercise, do Pilates, do your hair/makeup

Obligations & roles:

• do your duty, do your best, do time (prison)

Use “Make” for…

Creation & results:

• make dinner, make a poster, make a list

Decisions & plans:

• make a choice, make a plan, make arrangements

Communication & sounds:

• make a call, make a comment, make a noise

Progress & change:

• make progress, make improvements, make a difference

Money & opportunities:

• make money, make a profit, make the most of

Causing someone to act (causative):

• make someone do something

Read and know also more related topics: Do VS Did

Are VS Do

Difference between Will and Would

Has VS Was

Are VS Were

Difference between Are and Is

Tricky Collocations & Exceptions You Must Memorize

• Do someone a favor  (not make a favor)
• Make a decision/choice  (not do a decision)
• Do business  vs make money
• Make an effort (do your best also common)
• Make friends (not do friends)
• Make a mistake  (not do a mistake)
• Make the bed  (not do the bed)
• Do the shopping (BrE) vs go shopping; make a purchase (formal)
• Make a promise/appointment/reservation; do an interview (as interviewee)

When Both Appear but Mean Different Things

• Do a test = take/perform it
• Make a test = create/design it
• Do the report = work on/complete it
• Make a report = submit/file a formal report

Uses of the Do and Make (With Categories)

Work/Study (Do) vs Creation/Outcome (Make)

• Do: homework, research, reports, tasks, training
• Make: decisions, plans, proposals, presentations (create/compile)

Home & Daily Life

• Do: chores, laundry, washing, ironing
• Make: the bed, breakfast/lunch/dinner, a mess, a list

Communication & Social

• Do: an interview, a presentation (perform)
• Make: a call, an appointment, a promise, an excuse, a complaint

Progress/Change & Money

• Do: your best, your duty, good/evil
• Make: progress, improvements, profits, money, a difference

Comparison Chart of the Do VS Make

Do and Make Examples (Clear, High-Frequency)

Do

• She does yoga every morning.
• We did the laundry yesterday.
• They’re researching climate data.

Make

• He decided to move.
• Please make a list of supplies.
• The kids made too much noise.

Exercise of the Do and Make (With Answer Key)

A) Fill in the Blank (1–12)

1. Please ___ your homework before dinner.
2. We need to ___ a decision today.
3. I’ll ___ the dishes; you ___ the bed.
4. She ___ a lot of progress this term.
5. Can you ___ a phone call to the supplier?
6. They ___ a mistake in the report.
7. He always ___ his best.
8. Let’s ___ arrangements for Friday.
9. I must ___ an interview at 3 p.m.
10. The storm ___ a terrible noise.
11. She ___ business in Asia.
12. We should ___ a list for the trip.

B) Choose the Correct Option (13–20)

13. I need to (do/make) more exercise.
14. They (did/made) an effort to arrive on time.
15. We’ll (do/make) a reservation for two.
16. She (did/made) the cleaning this morning.
17. He (did/made) a fortune in tech.
18. Can you (do/make) me a favor?
19. The team (did/made) great progress.
20. I’ll (do/make) the presentation; you (do/make) the slides.

C) Correct the Error (21–25)

21. We did a decision after lunch.
22. They made the laundry at night.
23. She did a mistake on question 4.
24. He made his best in the exam.
25. Please do the bed before leaving.

Answer Key of all questions

• 1–12:

1 do

2 make

3 do/make

4 made

5 make

6 made,

7 does

8 make

9 do

10 made

11 does

12 make

• 13–20:

13 do

14 made

15 make

16 did

17 made

18 do

19 made

20 do/make

• 21–25:

21 make → made a decision

22 do → did the laundry

23 make → made a mistake

24 do → did his best

25 make → make the bed

What’s the difference between do and make?

The verbs “do” and “make” are often confused, but they serve different purposes:

Do is used for tasks, duties, routines, or activities that involve performing or carrying out something: do homework, do the laundry, do your best.

Make is used for creating, producing, or causing a result: make a cake, make a decision, make progress.
Think of do as the action itself and make as producing a new result or outcome.

What are the most common collocations with do and make?

Some high-frequency collocations you must know:

Do

• do homework
• do research
• do the dishes
• do exercise
• do your best

Make

• make a decision
• make a mistake
• make a plan
• make money
• make a call
• make friends
• make progress

Memorizing these collocations helps you sound natural in English.

FAQ’s on Do and Make

Can I use do and make interchangeably?

No. Do and make are not interchangeable because they convey different meanings:

• I did the dishes ✅ (task completed)
• I made the dishes ❌ (incorrect—dishes are not “created” in this context)
• I made a plan ✅ (created a plan)
• I did a plan ❌ (incorrect—“do” is for tasks, not creation)

Always focus on whether the action is a task/activity (use do) or creation/result (use make).

Is it “do a decision” or “make a decision”?

The correct phrase is “make a decision”.

• Make is used here because a decision is something you create or produce, not just perform.
• Example: She made a decision to move to a new city.

Is it “do homework” or “make homework”?

The correct expression is “do homework”.

• Do is used for tasks and activities, and homework is a task, not something you create.
• Example: I need to do my homework before dinner.
• Make homework is incorrect in standard English.

Why is it “make the bed” but “do the dishes”?

• Make the bed: You are creating a neat and arranged bed, so “make” fits because it produces a result.
• Do the dishes: You are performing a routine task, not creating something new, so “do” is used.

Tip: Think of do = activity/task, make = create/produce.

How do I teach do vs make effectively? (tips + printable list)

1. Use examples: Show learners common collocations like do homework and make a decision.
2. Categorize by context: Divide into tasks (do) and creation/results (make).
3. Practice exercises: Include fill-in-the-blanks, multiple-choice, and correction exercises.
4. Highlight exceptions: Teach tricky collocations like do someone a favor or make friends.
5. Use visuals/cheat-sheets: A printable list of top 50 collocations helps memorization.
6. Engage in role-play: Ask students to use do/make in real-life scenarios: planning, chores, or making calls.

Conclusion

Mastering the difference between Do VS Make is essential for speaking and writing English naturally. While “do” focuses on performing tasks, and activities, “make” emphasizes creating, producing, or causing results. Understanding these distinctions, along with their common collocations, helps you avoid mistakes like do a decision or make the dishes.

By practicing examples, exercises, and memorizing tricky collocations, you can confidently choose the right verb in any situation—whether it’s doing homework, making a plan, or making a phone call. If it’s a task or effort, think “do”, and if it produces something new or creates an outcome, think “make.”

Key takeaway:

• Do = perform or execute an activity/duty

• Make = create, produce, or cause a result/outcome

• Memorize high-frequency collocations—they drive natural English usage.

Use this guide as a reference for everyday English, teaching, or self-study. Combine it with cheat-sheets, quizzes, and exercises to strengthen your understanding. Once you master Do VS Make, your English will sound more fluent, accurate, and native-like.