Basics. Do vs. Make: Basic Collocations: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Do vs. Make: Basic Collocations
The verbs "do" and "make" are often confusing for English learners because they translate to the exact same word in many languages. As a general rule, we use "do" for actions, obligations, and repetitive tasks (like "do the laundry"), while "make" is used for creating, building, or producing something new (like "make a cake").
In this challenge, you will help a secret agent, a party planner, and a frantic head chef choose the correct verb for their situations. You will practice identifying common English collocations, such as making a mistake, doing a favor, doing your best, and making your bed.
You'll work through 8 questions presented in single-choice, multi-choice, and drop-down formats to test your understanding of these essential everyday phrases.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
Here are the correct collocations:
- make sure: A fixed phrase meaning to check or confirm something.
- do work: We use do for general activities, jobs, and tasks.
- make a mistake: We use make when producing an error or a choice (like make a decision).
- do your best: We use do when talking about applying effort or performing an action to the highest standard.
Question 2
The correct answers are I promise I will do my homework right after lunch. and I need to do the laundry today because I have no clean shirts.
We use do for routine jobs, chores, and work (like do homework and do the laundry).
We use make when we are constructing or preparing something (like make a sandwich and make the bed).
Question 3
Complete the roommate's desperate text message by selecting the correct verb.
Could you ____ me a huge favor and hide the dirty dishes before my mom arrives?
The correct answer is do.
We use the verb do for general actions, tasks, and helpful deeds. The phrase "do a favor" is a fixed collocation. Even though you are "producing" a good result for someone, English speakers always say "do a favor," not "make a favor."
Question 4
Here are the correct collocations:
- make your bed: We use make when we are arranging or creating something (even if the bed already exists, we are "creating" a tidy state).
- do laundry: We use do for household chores, repetitive tasks, and general work.
- make a mess: We use make for creating or producing something, including chaos!
- do a favor: This is a fixed expression. We do favors, meaning we perform a helpful action for someone.
Question 5
Help the secret agent complete his mission log by choosing the right word.
I tried to be sneaky, but I ____ a terrible mistake and dropped my disguise in the soup.
The correct answer is made.
We generally use the verb make when we create, produce, or construct something. The phrase "make a mistake" is a standard English collocation. Even though a mistake is an action, we never say "do a mistake."
Question 6
The correct answers are I need to make a chocolate cake for the birthday boy. and Please tell the children not to make a mess in the living room!
We generally use make when we create, build, or produce something new (like make a cake or make a mess).
We use do for general tasks, chores, and activities (like do the dishes and do homework).
Question 7
Choose the correct word to complete the coach's encouraging advice to a confused alien.
Don't worry if you don't know how to play human baseball yet. Just go out there and ____ your best!
The correct answer is do.
We use do when talking about performing an action, a duty, or a task. "Do your best" is a very common collocation meaning to try as hard as you can. We do not say "make your best."
Question 8
The correct answers are It is completely normal to make a mistake when you are learning. and Always try to do your best in every lesson.
These are common fixed collocations in English. We say make a mistake and make friends (creating an outcome or relationship). We say do your best (performing an action). We also say make a noise, not do a noise.