Make and Do Collocations: Free Worksheets, Exercises & PDF

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Confused about when to use make or do in English? These verbs often seem similar, but they collocate with different types of actions and expressions. These fun and practical worksheets will help you learn common collocations with “make” and “do” so you can use them naturally and correctly.

See more collocation and vocabulary practice worksheets below:

Download Collocations with Make and Do Worksheet

1. Complete these general rules with Make or Do.

Worksheet with make and do collocationsPin

Answer:

✅ 1. Complete these general rules with MAKE or DO.

A
Use MAKE with things you create or produce.
Eg: a meal – a report – a sculpture

B
Use DO with tasks that you perform.
Eg: the dishes – the shopping – some research

C
Use MAKE with expressions that refer to constructing something.
Eg: a shelter – a table – a machine

D
Use DO with expressions that refer to completing something.
Eg: an assignment – your duties – a checklist

E
Use MAKE with expressions that refer to changes or modifications.
Eg: an improvement – an adjustment – a change

F
Use DO with expressions that refer to performing an activity or role.
Eg: a service – your job – a presentation

2. Complete these sentences with the correct form of MAKE or DO.

A
She does meditation every morning to clear her mind.

B
He did a detailed analysis of the company’s finances.

C
We made plans to travel abroad next summer.

D
They made an offer to buy the house last week.

E
The chef made a delicious dish for the guests.

F
She made an error in her calculations.

G
It’s important to make time for exercise every day.

H
He always does his homework before dinner.

I
The team made an incredible effort to meet the deadline.

2. Write the words and phrases in the correct column.

Make and Do collocations chartPin

Answer:

MAKE DO
friends your homework
a mess your best
your bed an effort
your make-up the shopping
a fuss the washing-up
money well
a phone call your hair
a cup of tea athletics
somebody a favour  
a suggestion  

3. Work in pairs or groups. Read each category and write examples of expressions that typically go with MAKE or DO.

Collocations with Make and Do brainstorming chartPin

Answer:

Category Example Expressions
MAKE – things you create or produce make a cake, make a decision, make a plan
MAKE – constructing something make a building, make a bridge, make a model
MAKE – changes or modifications make a difference, make an effort, make progress
DO – tasks you perform do homework, do the laundry, do the shopping
DO – completing something do your job, do a puzzle, do a task
DO – performing an activity or role do a job, do a favor, do your duty
OTHER – idiomatic expressions make money, do your best, make a phone call

Download Collocations with Make and Do Worksheets for Kids PDF

Collocations with Make and Do Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with MAKE or DO

Complete the sentences using the correct form of make or do.

  1. I need to ________ my homework before dinner.
  2. She ________ a delicious cake for the party.
  3. They always ________ a mess in the kitchen.
  4. We should ________ a decision soon.
  5. He ________ the shopping every weekend.
  6. I will ________ a phone call and get back to you.
  7. Can you ________ your best on the test?
  8. Please ________ your bed before leaving the room.
  9. Let’s ________ progress on the project today.
  10. She ________ a suggestion during the meeting.

Answer:

  1. do
  2. make
  3. make
  4. make
  5. do
  6. make
  7. do
  8. do
  9. make
  10. make

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct word (make or do) to complete each sentence.

  1. He needs to _______ a phone call. a) make b) do
  2. I usually _______ my homework in the evening. a) make b) do
  3. Let’s _______ a decision together. a) make b) do
  4. She _______ a great job organizing the event. a) did b) made
  5. They _______ a lot of noise last night. a) made b) did

Answer:

  1. a
  2. b
  3. a
  4. a
  5. a