English (UK) · Make, Do & Other Tricky Verbs

Make or Do?

Many languages have one verb for both, but English splits it into make and do. Learn them as fixed pairs.

make is usually for creating or causing something: make a cake, make a plan, make a mess, make noise, make a phone call, make the bed. Also make a mistake, make a decision, make an effort, make friends, make money, make progress, make sense.
do is for tasks, jobs and activities: do your homework, do the dishes, do the shopping, do the cleaning, do yoga, do exercises, do business, do a great job, do your best.

What do you do for a living? asks about someone's job. Forms: make, makes, making, made and do, does, doing, did.

Examples

I have to my homework tonight.Show answer

I have to do my homework tonight.

It's OK to mistakes.Show answer

It's OK to make mistakes.

Please don't so much noise!Show answer

Please don't make so much noise!

I try to yoga every morning.Show answer

I try to do yoga every morning.

Can you the dishes after dinner?Show answer

Can you do the dishes after dinner?

Does this sentence sense to you?Show answer

Does this sentence make sense to you?

I need to a quick phone call to my sister.Show answer

I need to make a quick phone call to my sister.

Who is going to the shopping this week?Show answer

Who is going to do the shopping this week?

Let's a plan for the weekend.Show answer

Let's make a plan for the weekend.

Did you your bed this morning?Show answer

Did you make your bed this morning?