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“do” is a word that is often used for actions:

Examples:

What are you doing?  (Not “What are you making?”)
Have you washed the dishes? –Not yet, but I’ll do it later.
What do you usually do on vacation?
I’m bored – there’s nothing to do.

“make” is used when we are referring to producing or creating something.

Examples:

Grandmother made bacon and eggs for breakfast.
Jack is going to make a model car for the Pinewood Derby.
Everybody knows that Santa’s elves make all the toys in their workshop at the North Pole.

Here are some expressions using “do”:

do (somebody) a favor:  Can you do me a favor?  I need some stamps from the post office.
do (your) best:  My parents always told me not to stress over an exam, but just to do my best.
do an exercise:  Sarah does yoga every morning before work.
do homework:  Tom does homework for two hours every day after school.
do housework:  Aunt Elsa hates doing housework, so Uncle Steve has a cleaning lady come twice a week.
do the dishes:  It’s Eddie’s turn to do the dishes this week, isn’t it?
do the laundry:  The worst part about going on vacation is you have to do the laundry when you get back home.

Here are some expressions using “make”:

make (a) noise:  Shhh – don’t make a noise.  I’m hunting rabbits.
make a bed:  We were taught to make our bed every morning before coming down for breakfast.
make a face:  Joshua made a face at the teacher while her back was turned.
make a fuss:  You don’t have to make a fuss over me – just treat me like one of the family.
make a list: Santa Claus is making a list, and checking it twice – he’s going to find out who’s naughty and nice.
make a mess:  The teacher scolded the children for making a mess in the cafeteria.
make a mistake:  Oh, I must have made a mistake – Mr. Smith’s address is 305 Main Street, not 503.
make a phone call:  Will you excuse me for a moment?  I have to make an important phone call at 3 o’clock.
make an appointment:  Father has a toothache, so Mother made an appointment for him to see the dentist tomorrow afternoon.
make change:  Can you make change for a dollar?
make trouble:  I don’t want to make trouble for you, but we have to do something about the dead tree in the back yard.

Note:  “make a picture” is used only to refer to painting or drawing.  Also, movies are “made,” but photographs are “taken” – “make a movie,” “take a picture”:

Charlie made a wonderful picture in art class today.
The movie “Gone With the Wind” was made in 1939.
Be sure to take lots of pictures on your vacation to the Grand Canyon.

Exercises.  Complete the sentences, using make/making/made or do/doing/did.

Example:

What did you _______ on your vacation?  ==> What did you do on your vacation?

1.    The boys _______ a lot of trouble for the substitute teacher.
2.    The dessert tasted fabulous!  Did you _______ it yourself?
3.    The children are being pretty quiet – go and check what they are _______.
4.    Peter _______ well on his biology test.
5.    What did I _______ to deserve his rude treatment?
6.    On Mother’s Day, Father _______ the dishes for Mother.
7.    Grandmother _______ Aunt Polly’s wedding dress.
8.    When you cleaned the living room, I hope you remembered to _______ the windows.
9.    You’d better behave – I don’t want you _______ trouble for the babysitter.
10.    Aunt Sally really _______ a fuss over Jimmy when he got sick with the measles.

Exercises.  Look at the following pictures and describe what the people are doing, using either doing or making.

Example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercises.  Write make or do in the correct form.

Example:

He _______ his bed, now he must lie in it.  ==> He made his bed, now he must lie in it.  (an English idiom, meaning that a person must accept the consequences of his actions, rather than complain about them)

1.    Grandmother found _______ the dishes to be relaxing.
2.    Mother _______ the gardening in the early morning, before it gets too hot.
3.    Every Thanksgiving, Mother and her sisters would get together and _______ a huge turkey dinner.
4.    You’d better clean up the mess that the puppies _______ in the living room.
5.    I don’t think I can _______ change for a five-dollar bill.
6.    Karen always _______ her bed before she eats breakfast.
7.    To get ready for the test, Jack _______ all the review exercises for Chapter 6.
8.    Edward _______ beautiful music whenever he plays his violin.
9.    Sally hates _______ the laundry.  It’s so boring.
10.    I’m not _______ you any favors if I _______ all your homework for you!
11.    Jack _______ a face when the dentist told him he shouldn’t eat so much candy.
12.    It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose the tennis match, as long as you _______ your best.

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