HELP sheet - MAKE vs DO. Which to use.

Unfortunately there is no sure rule but generally:

 

“DO” is used for actions, tasks and obligations of any sort when referring to the action itself.

We DO the housework, the washing, homework, shopping,

He DID his best, his duty.

It refers to generalties and can take over from "MAKE" as in the following:

"I"ll make some tea." "don't get up. I"ll do it."

"She wanted to make a call to the doctor but she was so ill that I had to do it for her"

"He could't make the appointment on time but he did his best."

 

“MAKE” is used mostly when something is created, produced or constructed or manufactured.

We make a piece of furniture, a model, .

More abstractedly:

We make an effort, a decision.

Or even with negative things:

We make a miscalculation, a mess.

 

"What are you doing?" as a question expects an answer about the activity.

"What are you doing under that tree?" "Nothing special. I'm just waiting for the rain to stop."

 

"What are you making ?" expects an answer related to the result.

"What are you making with that pastry?", "I"m making an apple pie."

 

Of course the more general question "What are you doing?" can invoke a more precise answer with "make" (as it could with any other verb.)

"What are you doing?" "I'm making a model plane."

 

N.B. A very common mistake for students of English is to confuse these two:

"We DO an exercise." or "We DO homework."

but while doing them:

"We MAKE mistakes."