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Davivien asks about 'make' and 'do' collocations:

I would lượt thích to lớn know the differences between the verbs to do and to make. Do you 'make an exam' or tự you 'do an exam'?

do

You do an exam. But there are no easy rules to lớn follow. We always use do to lớn describe indefinite activities, often with what, thing, anything, nothing, etc and generally speaking we also use tự to lớn talk about duties, jobs or (leisure) activities. Look at the following examples:

  • 'What shall we do now?' 'You can do what you lượt thích. I'm going home!'

  • 'He didn't do anything. He just sat there.'
  • 'You expect mạ to lớn do everything around the house. Well, I'm fed up!'
  • 'I did all my homework last night ví tonight I'm going to lớn do the housework.'
  • 'I did a lot of research and I think I did a good job on that essay. I did my best anyway.'
  • 'I intend to lớn do lots of walking on holiday this year, and perhaps some bird-watching too.

make

We tend to lớn use make when we are talking about constructing, creating or performing something. Study the following examples:

  • 'I made three suggestions and left it to lớn him to lớn make the final decision.'

  • 'I've made all the arrangements for the trip and I've made a great effort to lớn get it all right.'
  • 'I'm afraid I'm going to lớn have to lớn make my excuses and leave.'
  • 'I have to lớn make three phone calls.'

make or do?

Test your knowledge of make and do now by clicking on what you think is the correct box in the examples that follow.

It is not always as easy as the above examples suggest. It is often simply a matter of usage, of learning and knowing which of these two verbs collocate with which nouns. Best of luck! The first two examples are done for you.

Answers

do the cleaning and the cooking
make a lasting impression (on someone)
do the shopping and the washing-up
do some serious work
do a lot of damage (to something)
make an announcement
make an application (e.g. for a driving test)
make a sound or a noise
do one's hair or one's teeth
do a lot of harm rather phàn nàn good
do business (with somebody)
do (somebody) a favour
make love, not war
make a mess, a profit or a fortune
make fun of someone or a fool of someone
make amends for one's behaviour