The difference between "do" and "make" in English

In German, one word covers a lot of ground: machen. Hausaufgaben machen, einen Fehler machen, Essen machen, it all works. In English, you need two words for that, "do" and "make." It might seem like a small difference, but choosing the right one will make your English sound much more natural. Let's break it down.

When to use "do"

We use "do" for tasks, jobs, and activities, especially the ones you have to get through, like work and chores.

• I'm too tired to do the housework tonight.
• She does the laundry every Sunday.
• My doctor said I should do more exercise.

It's also used when you don't say exactly what the activity is.

• What are you doing this weekend?
• I didn't do anything yesterday.
• Just do your best.

When to use "make"

We use "make" when you create or produce something, so something exists afterwards that wasn't there before.

• Let's make a list of everything we need for the trip.
• I made a cake for her birthday.
• Anna makes the best grilled cheese sandwiches.

It's also used for some less physical results, like decisions, plans, and changes.

• We need to make a decision by Friday.
• That small change made a big difference.
• I've made some progress, but there's still a lot to do.

Fixed expressions with "do" and "make"

A lot of phrases follow these general rules, but some don't, so they're worth learning as fixed pairs. "Homework" is a good example. Even though you're producing something, English treats homework as a task, so you "do" it. "Make homework" is one of the most common mistakes German speakers make.

Here are some more fixed expressions:

The more you use these, the more natural they'll feel. And if you mix them up now and then, don't worry. Everyone makes mistakes, and you can always do better next time.

And while you're working hard to make sense of English, check out our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs to keep learning more.