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Collocations with
Do & Make

By: Mubaraak Abdessalami

TEACHERS!

In case we want to teach our students word associations or collocations for the enrichment of their target language repertoire, I guess we have first to broach the collocations made up from the verbs « do » and « make » because they are very often confused and confusing. If there are any word associations that need such attentiveness and intensive concentrated practice will surely be the cases in which « do » and «make» are used to describe actions. Both of them work better and more authentically than each other because none of them dare replace the other in any domain supervised, predominated and controlled by each one of them. This is said, we have to take it for granted that both of the verbs almost describe the same action. It is this similarity between them which makes it imperative for us -teachers- to show our students the right use for the right reason of the word combinations with the verbs «to do» and «to make»

"We'll make dinner provided that you do the dishes".

Never can 'do' venture to do the job of 'make' or otherwise 'make' can make any choice concerning the job 'do' does. I simply mean that the verbs 'to do' and 'to make' have already made their decisions about the actions each of both has to handle.

In the law of grammar, it is a transgression of the treaty of collocations to say for instance,

None of the two sentences are tolerated by the rules of collocation and no respectful language user would «make such mistakes».

We -all of us- have to do our students a favour by making an extra effort so as to make progress noticeable.

STUDENTS!

You are learning English as a foreign language so you are supposed to be faced with the challenge of using the right word combination for both 'make' and 'do'. Don't forget that your mother language -with all its heavy cultural background- will affect your understanding of this duality of expressing the performance, accomplishment or exertion of an act or a deed in the English language. 'Make' and 'do' express the same thing but each one is used irreplaceably in combination with particular actions.

It is easy but you need to continuously practice them so that these crucial details stick in your head. The following table will show you some frequent uses of the word combinations with both do and make. These collocations have to be learnt quite curiously so as not to be confused and therefore confusing. Don't forget that native speakers wouldn't understand you if it happens that you misused the combination.
Do

    + the shopping
    + work
    + homework
    + housework
    + the cleaning
    + the cooking
    + the laundry
    + the salad
    + the dishes
    + gardening
    + something
    + nothing
    + a good job
    + business
    + errands
    + a favour
    + a puzzle
    + exercise
    + an exercise
    + science (at school)
    + the washing
    + the washing up
    + a quiz
    + a text
    + good
    + harm
    + well
    + fine
    + wisely
    + your best
Make

    + progress
    + a mess
    + furniture
    + trouble
    + war
    + peace
    + a change
    + plans
    + arrangements
    + a telephone call
    + a deal
    + a scene
    + an effort
    + an excuse
    + a mistake
    + a noise
    + trouble
    + a phone call
    + a journey
    + an offer
    + a suggestion
    + a speech
    + a decision
    + a choice
    + the bed
    + a dress
    + money
    + a fortune
    + a profit
    + friends
    + food
    + fun (of someone)
    + a meal
    + breakfast
    + lunch
    + dinner
    + a promise
    + a list
    + a cake
    + a sentence
    + an exception
    + a cup coffee
    + a glass of tea


Do it yourself

  • Write as many sentences with 'make' & 'do' as you can, taking the chart above for guidance.
    •    Examples   
    - We don't normally work on Sundays; but I'll make an exception for you.
    - The students are going to do the test soon.


    Quiz

  • Fill in the blanks with the right word. Click 'do' or 'make'

    • 01. Will you me a favor, please? Write something first.Compare
    02. It's your turn to the dishes today.Compare
    03. I will a list of the things we need.Compare
    04. Ok! I will an exception for you.Compare
    05. Please, don't mistakes.Compare
    06. I need to go out now. It's urgent. I have to a phone call. Compare
    07. The good students always their homework.Compare
    08. My father won't the cleaning.Compare
    09. The workers I hire always a good job.Compare
    10. My husband never helps me dinner.Compare
    11. I always the washing up in the morning.Compare
    12. The students don't like to quizzes.Compare
    13. The menu was so good that it was difficult for us to a choice.Compare
    14. The soldiers are obliged to their beds every morning.Compare
    15. an effort to finish the work before lunch time.Compare
    16. The doctor asked to exercise.Compare
    17. I don't know how people can money without hard work.Compare
    18. The deadline is for tomorrow and we have to a decision quickly.Compare
    19. They wanted to an offer to build the bridge.Compare
    20. Can anybody a suggestion? I am completely in the dark.Compare

                                                                            

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