English Café: Make or Do?

Advanced Details: At PTTEP, should we write make or do?

Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast rule in English concerning the use of make and do. In general, however, we use “make” when we build, construct or create something and “do” for tasks and activities.

Make is used to talk about producing, constructing, creating or building something new.

• Make a change, a modification
• Make a sandwich, a cup of coffee
• Make a plan, a container
• Make a connection, a pipeline

Make is used to talk about plans, proposals, ideas.

• Make arrangements, plans, reservations, appointments
• Make a suggestion, a commitment, a promise, an offer, a wish
• Make a list, a choice, a decision, a rule, an objection

Make is used to talk about changes and results.

• Make a difference, an exception, an effort, a start
• Make a profit, a loss, money, a fortune
• Make progress, a discovery, a mistake
• Make sure, make sense

Make is also used to talk about the materials used to make something, or the country where it is produced.

• The belt is made of genuine leather.
• The steel was made in China.

Do is used to talk about work, a job, a task or household activities.

• Do a job, a project, your duty
• Do the homework, the laundry
• Do your hair, your nails, your make-up

Do is also used for abstract or general activities without being specific.

Do: anything, everything, nothing, something | Do: your best, the minimum, the maximum, a favor, harm/damage

• What are you doing this weekend?
• He does everything around the workshop.
• I’m bored doing nothing. Can I do anything to help?