Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Are you “making it” or “doing it”?


One of the most common questions that non-native speakers of English ask is: “Is it make or do?”
It’s a good question… and here are a few ways to help you learn which is right


Make has, in general, a more creative connotation. Do is used more often with words or expressions related to jobs and obligations – things that are necessary, but that aren’t particularly pleasant or enjoyable.

When we use do, it often implies (implica) things that are routine, repetitive, monotonous, boring, tiring, or difficult. Things we do may require (exigir) discipline, concentration, and perseverance. For things we make, we need to use imagination, talent, creativity. When we use the word make, we might be referring to something that we can finish or complete, leaving us with a product, a creation, a piece of art, an accomplishment.(realización) What we do seems to be more continual or never-ending. We usually have to do things over and over again because they are necessary or required. An obvious exception to this general “rule” is that we say to make the bed. Most people would agree that making the bed is not particularly creative and that it is a necessary part of our daily routine.                                      
You can usually remember which verb is right if you make a list of similar words that use either one or the other.

We use the verb DO with :


work gardening              farm work                rescue work



tasks homework            charity work             police work


jobs schoolwork            field work                dirty work

  housework                    book work              volunteer work    
the ironing                    the vacuuming           the washing up

the dishes                     the dusting                the bathroom


the cleaning                  the baking                 the mopping

  the sweeping                the sewing                 the chores        projects                        business                   inventories

marketing                       tasks                 promotions planning

  campaigns    presentations   market studies      statistics  

Now compare the do expressions (above) with the following make expressions (below). Can you see the difference between the types of expressions they use?

Food preparation


a salad       a dessert     cookies     bread

breakfast    tea    a sandwich   scones   pies

lunch      coffee    spaghetti    bacon and eggs  dinner 

a cake    toast     a drink     a cocktail     soup    biscuits

Passion / conflict / cause / performance

trouble plans    a scandal     a mistake

an impression    a reservation     a phone call    love

a comment       a decision     an exception    a noise

Handwork

clothes      a picture (draw, paint)     pottery (cerámica)

a sweater   a chair     decorations     a movie

a jacket      a sculpture     a poster     a CD


Expressions that mean “get” or “obtain”

money     contacts    advances     friends

peace      enemies     millions       progress
   


Complete the sentences in the exercise with the correct form of either make or do. Later, check your answers in the key to see if you’ve made the grade.

1. The teacher told us to ...................... pages 50 and 51 in the workbook.

2. If you................. the bedrooms, I’ll....................the kitchen.

3. Something smells good! Oh, you’re.....................popcorn.

4. Your homework looks good, but you still have to................your maths.

5. Clean up your workspace. The boss is going to...............an inspection.

6. How many mistakes did you...................on the exam?

7. Have you..................any plans for the summer?

8. Spike always tries to....................the right thing.

9. It would be better not to................any comments about the war.

 

Answer key
          1. do 2. do / do 3. making 4. do 5. make 6. make 7. made  8. do  9. make

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