Make or Do? Common English Collocations
Do more with this exercise
Some English phrases use make; others use do. Learn the whole phrase, then choose the right verb in the exercises.
With make
make a mistakeDo something incorrectly.
It is okay to make a mistake.
make a decisionChoose between options.
We need to make a decision.
make a planDecide what to do.
Let us make a plan.
make a listWrite items in order.
I make a list before class.
make a phone callCall someone on the phone.
I need to make a phone call.
make noiseCreate a loud sound.
Please do not make noise.
make friendsGet to know new people.
It is easy to make friends here.
make moneyEarn money.
She wants to make money this summer.
make breakfastPrepare the morning meal.
I make breakfast at seven.
make progressImprove over time.
You make progress with practice.
With do
do homeworkComplete school work at home.
I do homework after school.
do houseworkClean and care for your home.
We do housework on Saturday.
do exerciseMove your body to stay fit.
I do exercise every morning.
do a jobCarry out a particular task.
They can do a job for us.
do some workComplete a task.
I do some work today.
do the dishesWash plates and cups.
I do the dishes after dinner.
do the laundryWash clothes.
We do the laundry on Sunday.
do your bestTry as hard as you can.
Please do your best.
do me a favourHelp me with a small task.
Can you do me a favour?
do a testAnswer the questions in a test.
We do a test every Friday.
Audio uses a synthetic voice.
Practice exercises
Match the word and meaning
Match each English item with its meaning.
Choose a word on the left, then its match on the right.
Make or do?
Choose the verb that completes each phrase.
7.___ a mistake
8.___ homework
9.___ a decision
10.___ the dishes
11.___ friends
12.___ your best
Complete the English
Type the missing word.
Use make or do? common english collocations
English uses make in phrases such as make a decision and make a mistake. Do appears in phrases such as do homework and do the dishes. There is no short rule that predicts every phrase, so learn each verb together with its noun.
Say the whole phrase aloud and notice the verb in the example sentence. Then use the make-or-do choices to check whether the combinations sound familiar. Review the ones you miss rather than memorising an isolated verb list.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one rule for choosing make or do?
There are patterns, but no simple rule covers every phrase. Learn common combinations as complete expressions.
Do I say make homework or do homework?
Say “do homework”. For a decision, say “make a decision”.
Answer key
1. make a mistake
Answer: Do something incorrectly.
make a mistake — Do something incorrectly.
2. make a plan
Answer: Decide what to do.
make a plan — Decide what to do.
3. make a phone call
Answer: Call someone on the phone.
make a phone call — Call someone on the phone.
4. make money
Answer: Earn money.
make money — Earn money.
5. do homework
Answer: Complete school work at home.
do homework — Complete school work at home.
6. do some work
Answer: Complete a task.
do some work — Complete a task.
7. ___ a mistake
Answer: make
The phrase is make a mistake.
8. ___ homework
Answer: do
The phrase is do homework.
9. ___ a decision
Answer: make
The phrase is make a decision.
10. ___ the dishes
Answer: do
The phrase is do the dishes.
11. ___ friends
Answer: make
The phrase is make friends.
12. ___ your best
Answer: do
The phrase is do your best.
13. Sometimes I ___ when I answer too fast.
Answer: make a mistake
The complete sentence is Sometimes I make a mistake when I answer too fast.
14. Before our trip, let's ___ for each day.
Answer: make a plan
The complete sentence is Before our trip, let's make a plan for each day.
15. I need to speak to Ana, so I want to ___.
Answer: make a phone call
The complete sentence is I need to speak to Ana, so I want to make a phone call.
16. She works on weekends to ___.
Answer: make money
The complete sentence is She works on weekends to make money.
17. After school, I ___ for class tomorrow.
Answer: do homework
The complete sentence is After school, I do homework for class tomorrow.
18. After dinner, I wash the plates. I ___.
Answer: do the dishes
The complete sentence is After dinner, I wash the plates. I do the dishes.