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Tim New Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
"To do" versus "to Make"
How do you distinguish the English Verbs "To Do" versus "To Make"?
I am planning an ESL Lesson on this topic, and I'd love input. In Spanish the verb Hacer is used for both English verbs. So how do you explain the difference? Any ideas?
I am planning an ESL Lesson on this topic, and I'd love input. In Spanish the verb Hacer is used for both English verbs. So how do you explain the difference? Any ideas?
Top answer
They collocate with different actions, and mostly idiomatically. Teaching them is mostly a matter of going through the most common collocations and giving the students a chance to learn them as phrases. There are no rules and no definitive difference, except where 'make' means 'create/construct' and 'do' does not.
- They collocate with different actions, and mostly idiomatically.
- Teaching them is mostly a matter of going through the most common collocations and giving the students a chance to learn them as phrases.
- There are no rules and no definitive difference, except where 'make' means 'create/construct' and 'do' does not.
- make dinner make a decision make an error do the dishes do an assignment do exercises
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4 Answers
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They collocate with different actions, and mostly idiomatically. Teaching them is mostly a matter of going through the most common collocations and giving the students a chance to learn them as phrases. There are no rules and no definitive difference, except where 'make' means 'create/construct' and 'do' does not.
make dinner
make a decision
make an error
make dinner
make a decision
make an error
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Thanks Mr. Micawber.
I think I will still do the lesson plan but focus on the "make means create/construct" aspect by using: "What are you doing?" versus "What are you making?". The answers to What are you doing? should be actions while the answers to What are you making? should be nouns I think.
I think I will still do the lesson plan but focus on the "make means create/construct" aspect by using: "What are you doing?" versus "What are you making?". The answers to What are you doing? should be actions while the answers to What are you making? should be nouns I think.
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That's a start, but it won't cover everything, of course.
You'll never elicit
I'm making room for my friend to sit down.
or
I'm making progress on my project.
by asking What are you making?
In fact, those are answers to What are you doing?
You'll never elicit
I'm making room for my friend to sit down.
or
I'm making progress on my project.
by asking What are you making?
In fact, those are answers to What are you doing?
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Hi Tim,
I am not sure if this will work for you. I personally would distinguish them this way. First of all, the words “make” and “do” have inferred meanings often beyond our awareness. i.e.
Guest on the phone: “I am afraid I can’t make it there in time for the wedding ceremony. My flight is delayed ” –“make it” here means ‘getting there” or “arriving” before the church
I am not sure if this will work for you. I personally would distinguish them this way. First of all, the words “make” and “do” have inferred meanings often beyond our awareness. i.e.
Guest on the phone: “I am afraid I can’t make it there in time for the wedding ceremony. My flight is delayed ” –“make it” here means ‘getting there” or “arriving” before the church
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