| What do you do? What do you make? What's the | | | | something you choose to do. You choose, for instance, |
| difference, anyway, between "make" and "do"? | | | | to make plans, make friends, and make decisions. You |
| These simple words cause lots of confusion for | | | | have choices. |
| English language learners . I've spent a considerable | | | | Why do we say "make dinner" if we have to do it |
| amount of time teaching a very wide range of ESL | | | | over and over? Perhaps because cooking is seen |
| classes this distinction. Many ESL students struggle | | | | more as a creative activity than a chore. But cleaning |
| with "make" and "do" - from advanced adult education | | | | the table, and cleaning the dishes are just chores so |
| and community college students to intermediate English | | | | we say "do the table" and "do the dishes." That's also |
| students in summer courses and regular university | | | | why Americans say "make money" instead of "do |
| courses. The large number of idioms further | | | | money." Making money is seen as both creative and a |
| complicates the problem. | | | | choice. |
| Here is a quick, imprecise guide that helps clarify the | | | | Idioms, of course, are cultural and sometimes less than |
| issue. | | | | completely logical. Sometimes Americans will use the |
| Look at some common expressions with "do". | | | | verb make in a way that might seem strange, but I |
| • Do the dishes. | | | | urge immigrants and international students to "make a |
| • Do some chores. | | | | decision", "do your best", and learn some practical |
| • Do your work. | | | | workplace idioms using make and do. |
| • Do exercises. | | | | Finally, I encourage students to work together in small |
| • Do your best. | | | | groups and create their own list of idioms with make |
| • Do it over. | | | | and do. When I'm lucky and have time, I like to ask |
| • Do the report. | | | | students to come to the white board and write their |
| Do is used to describe an activity that you have to do, | | | | collection of idioms on the board. Homework, of |
| often over and over again. For instance, we "do the | | | | course, is asking them to choose 5-10 idioms and write |
| dishes" and "do the laundry" many times. Do also | | | | complete sentences. |
| contains an element of duty and responsibility. | | | | One co-worker has students write questions with "do" |
| Now, take a look at some expressions with "make". | | | | and "make" and interview each other. Another prefers |
| • Please make time. | | | | using a multiple choice quiz. One ESL teacher emailed |
| • You make dinner. | | | | me that they compare and contrast "Mike Make" and |
| • You make drawings. | | | | "Dudley Do Right" for students. |
| • You make decisions. | | | | So how do you teach the difference between do and |
| • You make plans. | | | | make to your English students? Do you have a |
| • Your make reservations. | | | | favorite exercise to teach this point? Have you found |
| • You make money. | | | | an exceptional list of idioms with do and make? |
| • You make amends. | | | | Consider me curious. |
| • You make friends. | | | | Ask more. Know more. Share more. Create |
| Make is used to describe a creative activity or | | | | Compelling Conversations. |