what's the difference between do and make?

Question

Answer

Do and Make are two of the most common verbs in English. They are also two of the most commonly confused verbs in English! There are two main reasons for this:

Many languages have only one of these verbs. For example, in Italian 'fare' translates for both 'do' and 'make'.
    Many of the expressions are fixed expressions such as: make the bed, do homework. 
 Fixed Expressions with 'Do'

Here are the some of the most common fixed expressions with 'do':

do homework
    do the dishes
    do housework
    do good
    do harm
    do your best
    do a favor
    do 50 mph
    do business
    do your duty
    do your hair
    do a deed
    do penance / time
    do right / wrong
    do enough

Fixed Expressions with 'Make'

Here are the some of the most common fixed expressions with 'make':

make an offer
    make an exception
    make a mistake
    make peace / war
    make love
    make money / a profit
    make a phone call
    make an effort / attempt
    make (a) noise
    make a suggestion
    make a decision
    make an excuse
    make progress
    make arrangements

Answer

General Rules for 'Do'

Use 'do' when speaking about vague, or indefinite activities. These include speaking in general using '-thing' words such as something, anything, nothing, etc.

Examples

Are you going to do anything about it?
Let's do something this afternoon.
I didn't do anything wrong!

Use 'do' for activities. This includes any chores or daily tasks.

Examples

Hurry up and do the dishes
Did you do your chores?
I didn't have time to do my homework

Use 'do' with various jobs and activities ending in '-ing' such as do some gardening, do some thinking, do some painting, etc. This use tends to be informal in nature and can often be stated in a different manner. For example, 'I did some studying this afternoon' can be stated 'I studied this afternoon'.

Examples

I did some thinking about your problem.
He did some reading this morning.
She's going to do some resting on vacation.

General Rules for 'Make'

Generally, use 'make' when actually constructing or creating something (in other words, NOT for activities).

Examples

I made a cup of tea for breakfast.
He made his daughter a rocking horse.
Did you make that wonderful bread?

Answer

As far as I know: Every time you would say "make", it is better to say "do". "Do" is for "I make this product".

Best wishes

Answer

Peachey, thank you!

Answer

There's a link to exercises at the bottom of this article: http://esl.about.com/od/vocabularyreference/a/a_makeordo.htm