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do: general-purpose verb; do and make

The general-purpose verb do has several uses, and can sometimes be confused with make.

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do for indefinite activities​

We use do when we do not say exactly what activity we are talking about – for example with words like thing, something, nothing, anything, what.

  • Then he did a very strange thing. (not Then he made a very strange thing.)
  • Do something!
  • I like doing nothing. (not … making nothing.)
  • What shall we do?

do for work​

We use do when we talk about work and jobs.

  • I’m not going to do any work today.
  • It’s time to do the accounts.
  • Could you do the shopping for me?
  • I wouldn’t like to do your job.
  • I did (= studied) French and German at school.
  • Has Ben done his homework?
  • Could you do the ironing first, and then do the windows if you’ve got time?

do …ing​

We use do in the informal structure do …ing to talk about activities that take a certain time, or are repeated (for example jobs and hobbies). There is usually a determiner (e.g. the, my, some, much) before the -ing form.

  • During the summer I’m going to do some walking and a lot of reading.
  • I hate doing the ironing.

Note that the -ing form in this structure is noun-like, and cannot have an object.

  • (not I’m going to do some watching TV.)

But do can be used with a compound noun that includes verb + object.

  • I want to do some bird-watching this weekend.
  • It’s time I did some letter-writing.

make for constructing, creating, etc​

We often use make to talk about constructing, building, creating, etc.

  • I’ve just made a cake.
  • Let’s make a plan.
  • My father and I once made a boat.

do instead of make​

We sometimes use do in place of make, to sound casual about a creative activity – as if we are not claiming to produce any very special results.

  • ‘What are we going to eat?’ ‘Well, I could do an omelette.’

Common fixed expressions​

do good, harm, business, one’s best, somebody a favour, sport, some exercise, one’s hair, one’s teeth, one’s duty, 50mph

make a journey, an offer, arrangements, a suggestion, a decision, an attempt, an effort, an excuse, an exception, a mistake, a noise, a phone call, money, a profit, a fortune, love, peace, war, a bed, progress

Note that we say make a bed, but we often talk about doing the bed(s) as part of the housework. Compare:

  • He’s old enough to make his own bed now.
  • I’ll start on the vegetables as soon as I’ve done the beds.

We use take, not make, in take a photo, and have, not make, in have an (interesting) experience.

note

For information about causative structures with make, (see here).