Alexis Montenegro
Difference between do and make? I know how to use each one of them, but I cannnot explain them. Can you help me?
May 3, 2016 12:32 AM
Answers · 3
"do" and "make" are extremely varied in meanings; unfortunately no one can give a satisfactory answer. Or to say it another way: without context, these words are nearly meaningless. Make money, make sense, make it happen, make up, make amends, .... Do work, do well, do tell, do him, do the hokey-pokey, do due diligence, ... Abstractly, "make" has to do with creation, causing, or realizing some outcome. However, it is highly idiomatic, so you need to learn phrases like "make sense", "make up", "make money", etc. "Do" has an abstraction connotation of actions and is also used an an auxiliary verb ("You like XYZ" -> "Do you like XYZ?", "You liked ABC" -> "Did you like XYZ") or added colloquially for emphasis "You //DO// brush your teeth, right?" Again, the dictionary entries for these are huge, because their meanings are contextual and not nearly as fixed as "a carrot" or "a rock". Please provide more examples in another question if you need clarification /in a specific context./
May 3, 2016
It really depends on the context. A lot of the time in English, there really isn't much of a difference, colloquially speaking. However... the act of doing something is a general word for any type of action, like doing homework, doing hair, doing makeup and doing practice. The act of MAKING is slightly different. If you make something, there is an implication of creation, if that makes any sense. You can make a face, make a meal, make up a lie, or make a poster. In each of these examples, the end result is something that was CREATED by some type of action. "To do" is a general word, but "to make" restricts the possibilities to things that can only be created. Making = creating. I'm not a linguist or anything haha but I hoped I cleared things up a little! :)
May 3, 2016
Yes it's a hard one :-\. I'll try to give some examples for you To "make" is bit like creating. I'm making a cake. I'm making the bed. I'll make you a sandwich. To "do" is an action word. I'm doing the shopping. I'm doing my homework. You will do the dishes (wash up). I hope this helps :-)
May 3, 2016
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