As an English teacher, I have been creating content for both Korean learners and global English learners. This blog is where I share the grammar rules I cover in my lessons — and today’s quiz is about two words that confuse almost every English learner: make and do. Both can translate to “하다” in many languages, which is exactly why they’re so tricky.
No rules first. Just the quiz. 🎯
Quiz Time!
Question 1: “Can you _____ me a favour?”
a) make b) do
Question 2: “She _____ a mistake on the test.”
a) did b) made
Question 3: “I need to _____ the dishes.”
a) make b) do
Question 4: “Let’s _____ a plan for the weekend.”
a) do b) make
Question 5: “He _____ his best but still failed.”
a) made b) did
Answers
- do — “do a favour” is a fixed expression
- made — “make a mistake” is always make
- do — “do the dishes” = household tasks
- make — “make a plan” = creating something
- did — “do your best” = effort/action
How many did you get right? Don’t worry if you missed a few — let’s break down the difference so you never get confused again.
When to use MAKE
MAKE is all about creating or producing something. When something new comes into existence — a result, an object, a decision — you use make.
- “I’ll make dinner tonight.” (you create a meal)
- “She made a great decision.” (a decision is produced)
- “We need to make a plan.” (a plan is created)
- “Don’t make a mistake.” (a mistake is produced)
- “He made a lot of money this year.” (money is generated)
Notice how each one ends with something new existing that wasn’t there before.
When to use DO
DO is about actions, tasks, and work — especially repeated activities or jobs. Nothing new is “created”; you’re just performing an action.
- “I have to do my homework.” (an activity)
- “Can you do the dishes?” (a household task)
- “She does yoga every morning.” (a routine)
- “Just do your best.” (an effort)
- “Could you do me a favour?” (an action for someone)
If it’s a chore, a job, or a general activity, it’s almost always do.
Common mistakes to avoid
Many learners say “do a mistake” or “make the dishes” — both are wrong. Remember: you make a mistake (you produce it) and you do the dishes (it’s a task). Another common one is “make homework” — it’s always do homework. When you’re unsure, ask yourself: Am I creating something new (make), or performing an action (do)?
Quick recap
Make = create / produce something new.
Do = action / task / work.
When in doubt, just remember: you make a sandwich, but you do the dishes! 🥪🍽️
Is there a grammar point or English expression you’ve always wanted to know? Drop it in the comments below — I’d love to cover it in my next post!
— Yehs Sam | Turtle Zeus 🐢⚡ Slow but surely, we get there.
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