The verbs make and do are some of the most common verbs in English. They have similar meanings, so it can be challenging to decide when to use them—especially since they translate to the same word in many languages!
Here is a simple memory trick to help you remember their main uses:
In this post:
When to use make in English
The acronym MAKE helps you remember the 4 main uses of the verb make:
| Use of make | Example phrases | |
|---|---|---|
| Money | speak about earning and spending money | make money make a payment make purchases |
| Arrangements | arrange plans and choose what to do | make a plan make a decision make a reservation make arrangements make a choice make an appointment |
| Keep | create objects that you can see and touch | make a blanket make a table make a sculpture |
| Eat | prepare food and drink | make a sandwich make lunch make a salad make a drink |
When to use do in English
And the acronym DO includes the uses of do!
| Uses of do | Example phrases | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Tasks | participate in common activities, such as chores, household tasks, and hobbies | do the dishes do cleaning do chores do your hair/makeup do yoga |
| Occupation | complete tasks related to work and school | do your job do work do business do an essay do a project |
Examples of make and do in English
Here are examples of the most common uses of make and do:
| Example | Acronym | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Junior is selling some of his old toys. He wants to make twenty dollars! | MAKE | money |
| You’ll make more money if we change jobs. | MAKE | money |
| How do they make a living? | MAKE | money |
| Someone has to make the final decision. | MAKE | arrangements |
| Lucy will make a reservation at a nice hotel. | MAKE | arrangements |
| My grandma made sweaters for us to wear! | MAKE | keep |
| Oscar made a beautiful piece of art to hang on the wall. | MAKE | keep |
| I’m hungry, so I’m going to make some pasta. | MAKE | eat |
| Vikram, what are you making for dinner? | MAKE | eat |
| I want to do my nails, but I can’t pick a color! | DO | daily tasks |
| Lin doesn’t want to do her laundry. | DO | daily tasks |
| Zari and Lily are doing their homework. | DO | occupations |
| Please do this project before January 12th. | DO | occupations |
Keep making progress in English!
The next time you need to choose between “make” and “do” in English, think about Money, Arrangements, Keep, Eat (MAKE) and Daily tasks, Occupations (DO). This memory trick will help you learn the most important and most frequent uses of these verbs!