Make or do? 📕

In many languages, one verb covers both meanings. English has two verbs, and uses them differently.

Do: activities, work and tasks

do homework, do the dishes, do the shopping, do exercise, do a course, do your best, do a favour

What do you do? (what is your job?)

Make: create or produce something

make dinner, make a cake, make coffee, make a decision, make a mistake, make a phone call, make friends, make money, make noise, make a plan

✗ I did a mistake.

✓ I made a mistake.

✗ Can you make me a favour?

✓ Can you do me a favour?

💡 Learn these as fixed expressions, together with the noun.