There is no easy way to distinguish MAKE and DO. There are some general ideas that can help you:

1. When you aren’t referring to anything specific, use ‘DO’:
What are you doing?
He doesn’t do anything.
He does a good job.

2. If you are talking about a procedure, a process from one thing to another, it’s probably MAKE:
Make a coffee / cake…
Make progress

3. Housework is always DO, except MAKE the bed:
DO the shopping / washing up / dishes

4. If it affects somebody else, it’s probably MAKE:
Make friends
Make somebody laugh or cry
My mum made me clean up after the party.

ARE YOU A TEACHER? DOWNLOAD THE PDF. FOR YOUR CLASSES HERE!

Choose the correct form of ‘MAKE’ or ‘DO’:

Do you know how to 1_________________ a spanish omelette?
What things do you 2_________________ badly?
Have you ever 3___________________ a speech in public? Did you 4_____________ a good job, or did you 5_______________ a mess of it?
Think of someone you would like to 6___________________ business with, or 7______________ a deal with.
What´s the best way to 8______________ money or 9________________ a living? If someone 10_______________ you an offer, what job would you choose?
Give us some tips on how to 11______________ your hair or makeup.
Tell us a time you 12___________ good friends with somebody?
What would be the easiest way to 13____________________ you happy (or grumpy)?
When was the last time someone 14_____________ you cry with laughter?
15___________ a list of the household chores you have to 16_________- for example, 17__________ the ironing, 18___________ the bed…. Which is the most unpleasant?
Are you 19____________ progress with your English? Are you 20_______________ an effort?
Is your teacher 21___________ a good job? What mistakes do you still 22_________________?

Answers!

Do you know how to 1MAKE a spanish omelette?
What things do you 2DO badly?
Have you ever 3MADE a speech in public? Did you 4DO a good job, or did you 5MAKE a mess of it?
Think of someone you would like to 6DO business with, or 7MAKE a deal with.
What´s the best way to 8MAKE money or 9MAKE a living? If someone 10MAKES you an offer, what job would you choose?
Give us some tips on how to 11DO your hair or makeup.
Tell us a time you 12 MADE good friends with somebody
What would be the easiest way to 13MAKE you happy (or grumpy)?
When was the last time someone 14MADE you cry with laughter?
15MAKE a list of the household chores you have to 16DO – for example, 17DO the ironing, 18MAKE the bed…. Which is the most unpleasant?
Are you 19MAKING progress with your English? Are you 20MAKING an effort?
Is your teacher 21DOING a good job? What mistakes do you still 22MAKE?