Collocations 6: Everyday verbs MAKE and DO

Jun 20, 2016

The basic meaning of make is about producing something.
The basic meaning of do is about performing an action.

Flashcards with MAKE and DO for practice.
1. . . .
  make
  a comment / comments
2. . . .
  make
  an improvement
3. . . .
  do
  someone a favour
4. . . .
  make
  a contribution to
5. . . .
  do
  the shopping
6. . . .
  make
  friends
7. . . .
  do
  harm
8. . . .
  do
  your hair
9. . . .
  make
  a phone call
10. . . .
  do
  some work
11. . . .
  do
  exercises
12. . . .
  do
  the washing
13. . . .
  do
  an experiment
14. . . .
  do
  your best
15. . . .
  do
  your homework
16. . . .
  make
  a change / changes
17. . . .
  do
  the ironing
18. . . .
  do
  damage
19. . . .
  make
  a choice
20. . . .
  make
  an effort
21. . . .
  do
  someone a good turn
22. . . .
  make
  arrangements for
23. . . .
  make
  a decision
24. . . .
  make
  a mistake
Choose the right collocation.
1. Joe is really . . .
  making an effort
  with his maths this term.
  - making an effort
  - doing an effort
2. I’ll . . .
  do the washing
  if you . . .
  do the ironing
  .
  - make the washing | make the ironing
  - do the washing | do the ironing
3. Changing the rules may . . .
  do more harm
  than good.
  - make more harm
  - do more harm
4. I’m too tired to go out tonight. Let’s . . .
  make an excuse
  and stay at home.
  - do an excuse
  - make an excuse
5. She . . .
  made a useful contribution
  to the discussion.
  - made a useful contribution
  - done a useful contribution
6. Scouts and guides are supposed to . . .
  do someone a good turn
  every day.
  - make someone a good turn
  - do someone a good turn
7. We’ll . . .
  do some exercises
  practicing these collocations tomorrow.
  - do some exercises
  - make some exercises
8. We are . . .
  doing an experiment
  to test how the metal reacts with water.
  - doing an experiment
  - making an experiment
9. The school can . . .
  make arrangements for
  pupils with special needs.
  - make arrangements for
  - do arrangements for
10. They’ve . . .
  made a mistake
  in our bill.
  - made a mistake
  - done a mistake
11. The new manager is planning to . . .
  make some changes
  .
  - make some changes
  - do some changes
12. Would anyone like to . . .
  make any comments
  on the talk?
  - make any comments
  - do any comments
13. Harriet is . . .
  making progress
  with all her schoolwork.
  - doing progress
  - making progress
14. I’ve got to . . .
  make some phone calls
  before dinner.
  - make some phone calls
  - do some phone calls
15. Karen is very good at . . .
  making friends
  .
  - making friends
  - doing friends
16. The storm . . .
  did some damage
  to our roof.
  - made some damage
  - did some damage
17. Repainting the room has really . . .
  made an improvement
  .
  - done an improvement
  - made an improvement
18. My son has to . . .
  do his homework
  straight after school.
  - do his homework
  - make his homework
19. No, I’m not ready. I haven’t . . .
  done my hair
  yet.
  - done my hair
  - made my hair
20. I’m glad it’s you who has to . . .
  make the decision
  , not me.
  - make the decision
  - do the decision
21. We’ll . . .
  do some work
  on our project and then we’ll go to the cinema.
  - do some work
  - make some work
22. All that matters in the exam is to . . .
  do your best
  .
  - do your best
  - make your best
23. Jill had to . . .
  make a choice
  between her career and her family.
  - make a choice
  - do a choice
Choose the right collocation with make and a noun in each of these conversations.
1. Miriam: The bill says we’ve had three desserts. We only had two.
  Rosa: The waiter must have . . .
  made a mistake
  .
  - made a contribution
  - made a choice
  - made an arrangement
  - made a mistake
  - made a decision
  - made a change
2. Kim: It’s so difficult. Should I take the job or not?
  Todd: I know it’s difficult. But you have to . . .
  make a decision
  one way or the other.
  - make an arrangement
  - make a change
  - make a contribution
  - make a mistake
  - make a decision
  - make a choice
3. Peter: Can I have chips and rice with my lunch?
  Clare: No, you have to . . .
  make a choice
  , chips or rice, but not both.
  - make a decision
  - make a contribution
  - make an arrangement
  - make a mistake
  - make a choice
  - make a change
4. Jane: Can you and Brian come to dinner on Saturday?
  Jill: Yes, we’ll have to . . .
  make an arrangement
  to get a babysitter, but it should be OK.
  - make a decision
  - make a change
  - make a choice
  - make a contribution
  - make an arrangement
  - make a mistake
5. Brona: Did you hear about the air traffic controllers’ strike in the USA?
  Aaron: Yes. We had to . . .
  make a change
  out travel itinerary because of it.
  - make a contribution
  - make an arrangement
  - make a choice
  - make a mistake
  - make a change
  - make a decision
6. Fran: Do you intend to speak at the meeting?
  Gloria: Yes, I hope I can . . .
  make a contribution
  to the debate.
  - make a change
  - make an arrangement
  - make a decision
  - make a mistake
  - make a contribution
  - make a choice
Choose the correct collocation, do or make.
1. Did you . . .
  do
  any work at the weekend?
  - do
  - make
2. Do you think it would . . .
  do
  any harm if I cut some leaves off this plant?
  - make
  - do
3. I hate . . .
  doing
  my homework at the last minute.
  - doing
  - making
4. You must . . .
  make
  an effort to work harder.
  - make
  - do
5. Did the fire . . .
  do
  make much damage to the factory?
  - do
  - make
6. We are trying to . . .
  make
  improvements to the system for registering.
  - make
  - do
You are designing a questionnaire for your school magazine. Complete each question with do or make.
1. Do you always . . .
  do
  your best to be on time when meeting a friend?
  - do
  - make
2. Do you ever . . .
  make
  negative comments about your friends’ hair, clothes, etc?
  - make
  - do
3. Do you find it easy to . . .
  make
  friends?
  - make
  - do
4. Do you . . .
  make
  excuses if someone asks you to . . .
  do
  a big favour for them?
  - do | make
  - make | do
5. Do you ever . . .
  make
  the cooking at home?
  - make
  - do

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