English in Your Face

How to Use "Make" and "Do"


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Today’s podcast is about the uses of make and do.


Follow along with the transcript of this episode at https://englishinyourface.blog.


This drives everyone crazy. In Spanish, for example, you have only one word for both make and do, “hacer,” so it’s difficult to figure out which English word “make” or “do" is correct to use. A lot of my students have learned a rule that I think is completely useless. They learn that you use “make” for things you do with your hands. No, ladies and gentleman, that doesn’t work. The expression “make good time” for example means to arrive at a place quickly. 

It usually takes me an hour to get to work but today it only took 30 minutes. I made great time.

Did you walk to work on your hands? No. It’s an absurd rule. Forget that rule. File that rule under stupid.

You have to learn which one to use by learning the context and that’s what I plan to do today. I’m going to go through some of the most common expressions that use make and do, so sit back, MAKE yourself comfortable and let’s DO it right.

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English in Your FaceBy Peter Mangiaracina