Expert Notes & Examples
Memorise as chunks + understand the underlying meaning difference.
MAKE — creation / outcome
make a decision · make an effort · make a mistake · make progress · make arrangements · make a reservation · make a plan · make a list · make a suggestion · make a complaint · make a call · make an appointment · make friends · make money · make a difference · make room · make peace · make a promise · make an offer · make sure
DO — task / activity / duty
do homework · do research · do business · do exercise · do the laundry · do the dishes · do the cleaning · do the shopping · do a favour · do your best · do a course (BrE less common → usually “take a course”, but “do a course” heard in BrE contexts) · do the accounts · do time (slang) · do good/harm · do damage · do work · do the paperwork
make a decision · make an effort · make a mistake · make progress · make arrangements · make a reservation · make a plan · make a list · make a suggestion · make a complaint · make a call · make an appointment · make friends · make money · make a difference · make room · make peace · make a promise · make an offer · make sure
DO — task / activity / duty
do homework · do research · do business · do exercise · do the laundry · do the dishes · do the cleaning · do the shopping · do a favour · do your best · do a course (BrE less common → usually “take a course”, but “do a course” heard in BrE contexts) · do the accounts · do time (slang) · do good/harm · do damage · do work · do the paperwork
“Think: Can you point to a product/result? → MAKE. Is it a task or activity? → DO.”
A · MCQ
Choose the Correct Collocation
Questions 1–5 · Make vs Do
Question 1
We need to ___ a decision before Friday.
A do
B make
C made
D doing
Question 2
She promised to ___ her best in the interview.
A make
B do
C made
D does
Question 3
The company will ___ research on consumer habits.
A make
B do
C does
D making
Question 4
We should ___ arrangements for transport.
A do
B make
C doing
D made
Question 5
She ___ a serious mistake in the report.
A did
B make
C does
D doing
B · T/F
True or False?
Questions 6–10 · Usage & Meaning
Question 6
“Do homework” is the natural collocation.
Question 7
“Make exercise” is standard English for taking exercise.
Question 8
“Make progress” correctly uses make.
Question 9
“Do a decision” is natural and common.
Question 10
“Do the laundry” is correct, not “make the laundry”.
C · Fill
Type the Collocation
Questions 11–15 · Use “make …” or “do …”
Question 11
Please me a favour and send the file.
Question 12
The lab will on battery life next week.
Question 13
Let’s for Tuesday.
Question 14
He always before dinner.
Question 15
That campaign really in our town.
D · Completion
Pick the Best Option
Questions 16–18 · Accurate & natural wording
Question 16
We can’t leave yet — we still need to ___ a reservation.
A make
B do
C made
D doing
Question 17
She ___ a huge effort and ___ very well in the oral exam.
A did / made
B made / did
C made / made
D did / did
Question 18
Choose the sentence with correct collocations.
A We did a complaint and made the shopping.
B We made a complaint and did the shopping.
C We made homework and did a decision.
D We did progress and made exercise.
E · Cloze
Select the Best Fit
Questions 19–22 · Fixed chunks
Before the launch, the team must sure all checks are complete. The analysts will additional research this week, and the PR lead will an announcement tomorrow. If anything goes wrong, we’ll our best to fix it quickly.
F · Scramble
Build the Sentence
Questions 23–25 · Word order & chunks
Question 23
Rearrange: we / must / make / a / decision / quickly
Question 24
Rearrange: do / the / best / you / can
Question 25
Rearrange: she / does / her / homework / every / evening
✎
Production Practice
Not auto-graded — B2 targets
Task 1 (120–140 words): Write an email to a client about a delay. Use at least five “make” collocations and four “do” collocations. Underline them.
Task 2: Rewrite the bullet list using natural collocations (e.g., do the cleaning, make arrangements). Ensure consistent register.