Do versus MAKE

"Arguments over grammar and style are often as fierce as those over IBM versus Mac, and as fruitless as Coke versus Pepsi and boxers versus briefs"

Jack Lynch

Let's face it, English can be confusing. A lot of words are similar but with different meanings. It is almost impossible to avoid making mistakes in English, but you might be able to avoid making these ones. In this post you will see many examples of how the two verbs make and do can be used.  You do your hair, but make your bed, do business, but make planes, you do your job, but make others do theirs… and this list seems t be endless…

 So why don’t we start making it clear today?

do

Do is used to describe an activity that you have to do, often over and over again. For instance, we "do the dishes" and "do the laundry" many times.

1.
 -Do something!
- What shall I do?
- You can do what you like!
- I’d rather do nothing…

We use do to describe indefinite activities, often with what, thing, anything, nothing…

2. 
- I did a lot of research and I think I did a good job on that report. I did my best anyway.
 - And now? Are you going to do any work today?
 - Yeah. It's time to do the accounts.
 - Poor fellow! I wouldn’t like to do your job.

We use do to talk about duties, jobs or (leisure) activities.

3.
 - I'm going to do some walking. Will you join me?
 - Walking…No, I’d rather do some reading.
 - Stop it! You’re not such a bore, are you?
 - Well, you got it! But only if you promise that we’ll do some bird-watching too.

We use do...... ing structure to talk about activities that take a certain time, or are repeated. Usually there is a determiner (the, my, some ) before the -ing form.

MAKE

1. Make is used to describe a creative activity or something you choose to do. You choose, for instance, to make plans, make friends, and make decisions. You have choices.

-  Dear, I've made all the arrangements for our trip and I've made a great effort to get it all right.
- Really? Oh, it’s so nice of you, but I’m afraid I'm going to have to make my excuses…I’m not going…
- Oh no, dear, it’s impossible! You can’t do so! It’s not fair!
- It was not an easy decision to make… But that’s what we have. I’m sorry…
- But what about boat I’ve made? What about a beautiful journey we were going to make?..

We tend to use make when we are talking about constructing, creating or performing something. Why do we say "make dinner" if we have to do it over and over? Perhaps because cooking is seen more as a creative activity than a chore (домашня рутина). But cleaning the table, and cleaning the dishes are just chores so we say "do the table" and "do the dishes." That's also why Americans say "make money" instead of "do money." Making money is seen as both creative and a choice.

2.  We use make somebody/something + adjective/noun to talk about an effect or change.

• The rain made the grass wet.
• It was this movie which made him a star.
• His attitude made him very unpopular with colleagues.

3.  make somebody do something  - to force someone to do something. Note that we use the infinitive without! to:

I made her cry. (not - I made her to cry or I made her crying)

The infinitive must follow the object:

I can't make the television work. (not - I can't make work the television)

But in passive constructions the infinitive with! to is used:

Ram was made to repeat the whole story.

In the song below by Christina Aguilera you can see a lot of such examples:

It makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter