What is the difference between 'do' and 'make'?
Do. This verb can have a large number of fields of application and different connotations, despite the fact that its meaning will almost always be linked to the activity.
For a Spanish speaker it can be easy to use this verb, especially considering that we use the same verb for a wide variety of situations. However, when speaking another language we can find ourselves with a complication: finding different words for aspects that our native language unifies.
This is what happens with the verb to do and to make, which in a wide variety of situations can have an almost identical meaning when they refer to doing an action. **“Doing something” or “Making something”? What is the difference between "to do" and "to make"? **
- Related article: "The 80 Best Short Phrases in English (with Translation)"
Main differences between the verbs "do" and "make"
The verbs “to do” and “to make” are similar in many ways.. Both are irregular verbs that can be translated into Spanish as "to do", and that imply the development of some type of activity. It is not uncommon for speakers of other languages to confuse both verbs.
However, while it can be confusing and difficult to understand for a non-native speaker, it It is true that the verbs "to do" and "to make" have a series of characteristics that make them distinguishable. Next and throughout this article we will try to determine what these differences are.
1. Approach
In theory, The main difference between the two verbs is that the verb "to do" is used to talk about carrying out an activity., focusing on the fact of having carried it out, or to express general ideas. The use of "to make" is closer to the idea of creating or making something, focusing more on the result of the action. It is important to note that this is not always true, but it does express the general trend. Some examples are the following:
- I'm doing sport
- He made the effort to come thought he was sick (he made the effort to come despite being sick)
2. specificity level
Another of the main differences can be found in that, as a general rule, the verb “to make” refers to a specific act or action, while “everything” refers to general and not very specific activities. Some examples are the following:
- Do some thinking
- I'm making some furniture for my house
3. Product or non-product?
In both cases we are talking about carrying out some type of action.. However, sometimes it is possible to observe that while the verb "to do" refers to the fact of doing an action itself, which is usually In general, it does not usually end with the creation of something, the verb "to make" is used in those actions that have a tangible result in form of some type of product of the action, which may or may not be physical (we can, for example, talk about commitments and/or elements symbolic). For example:
- Ella she's going to do some research (she's going to investigate)
- We once made a boat (Once we made a boat)
4. auxiliary
The verb "to do" is often used as an auxiliary verb in other sentences where it does not have the real meaning of "to do". Its use is frequent in interrogative sentences, placing more emphasis on the specific action that will be carried out than on the fact of doing it itself. In fact, if we try to translate many English sentences into Spanish, the verb “to do” is usually lost. The verb make tends to have more prominence, and when it is used it is usually done to emphasize the fact of having performed an action or created something. Two examples of this are the following.
I'm making a promise" Did you know that? (Did you know?)
5. Knowledge of what is happening
Linked to the level of specificity or generality, we can find that the verb "todo" can be used when talking about those actions of which we do not have previous knowledge, the activity itself is not indicated or that have not appeared in the conversation until then. The verb "to make" generally refers to much more specific elements that are marked in the conversation (even if it is at the same moment that the sentence is pronounced). To exemplify it, we leave two sentences:
- Ella she ’s making money with this situation (she is making money with this situation)
- I don't know what to think about it
6. Reference to social aspects
The verb "to make" usually appears in those sentences in which we are talking about an interaction between two people or beings., whether or not they are conversational elements. For example promises, commitments, discussions... are some examples of situations in which the verb "to make" is usually used. The "to do" usually talks about more individual ideas, acts and elements. Three sentences, for example, could be the following:
- I'm going to make a speech
- We have a suggestion to make
- I'm gonna do the dishes
