When Should I use Make or Do?

Make and Do are two of the most common verbs in English.

The verbs "make" and "do" are both action words in the English language that can be used interchangeably in some contexts, but have distinct meanings and connotations.

We use 'Make' in situations where we are creating something.

Make: This verb typically implies a process of creation, production, fabrication, or manufacturing something new from raw materials or existing components. For example, you might say, "I made a cake," meaning you created it by following a recipe with ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, etc.

We use 'Do' in situations where we are executing something, that has already been planned or created.

Do: On the other hand, this verb is more general and encompasses various actions performed to accomplish tasks or achieve goals. It does not necessarily imply creating something new; rather, it focuses on performing an activity or completing a task. For instance, you could say, "I did my homework," which means you completed your assigned schoolwork for the day.

Example in class

While explaining this grammar, my student Bianca asked me a very wise question:

Teacher but when I do a homework, I have to use my intelligence and my hands to do the homework, why can't I use make?

My answer was the following: Bianca, you are right. You have to use your mind to do the homework, which makes this sentence quite confusing. Nonetheless, It is important to notice that homework assignments are typically given by teachers and not based on the personal choice of students... Completing the homework is mandatory as it is assigned to you. It is a task planned by the teacher which you will have to execute only. Let's consider now, another example, imagine you are in your house, and you feel inspired to draw something, nobody told you to do that... you just felt inspired by it. So, you take a pencil and start to make a drawing, using your creativity, bringing your feelings down to the paper, there is no sense of accomplishing, it is a natural process of creation. And then we have the basic difference between the two of them.

In summary, while both verbs refer to doing things, they differ in their specificity regarding the type of action being described—making refers to producing something new, whereas doing covers a broader range of activities that are generally repetitive or assigned to you.