The following tables will show you some frequent uses of the word combinations with both do and make.
Verb Collocations in English – Video
“We’ll make dinner provided that you do the dishes“…
Common Collocations with DO
- Do a deal
To make an arrangement, esp. in business
Eg: Have you done any deals with distributors in Asia yet?
- Do business
To be engaged in business, to be involved in commerce or trade.
Eg: We want to do business with you
- Do damage
To cause harm or damage
eg: Did the storm do much damage?
- Do the dishes
To wash plates, cups, pots, pans, knives, forks, etc. used to cook and eat a meal
Eg: Whose turn is it to do the dishes tonight?
- Do the ironing
To iron clothes, sheets, …
Eg: I like listening to the radio while I’m doing the ironing.
- Do the shopping
To buy food and groceries
Eg: We usually do the shopping at our local supermarket.
- Do (your) best
Do all you can to succeed
Eg: We did our best to win, but the other team played really well.
- Do (your) duty
Do what you should do at work, at home, or for your community
Eg: The police were just doing their duty when they arrested him.
- Do (your) hair
Style your hairI need the hair dresser to do my hair
Eg: Every morning I do my hair so it looks presentable.
- Do (your) nails
Paint your nails
Eg: Can you open this envelope for me? I just did my nails and they’re still wet.
- Do someone a favour
Do something for someone as an act of kindness
He: He did us a big favour by postponing his departure for a couple of weeks.
- Do harm
To have a bad effect on somebody or something
Eg: The floods didn’t do any serious harm to our crops.
- Do damage
To cause harm or damage
Eg: Did the storm do much damage?
- Do better
To improve in performace or condition
Eg: We didn’t play well today, but I’m sure we’ll do better next time.
- Do work
To put effort into a task or a job
Eg: I’ve done enough work for one day. I’m going home.
Common Collocations with MAKE
- Make a bed
To neatly arrange the sheets, blankets and pillows on a bed
Eg: Mum says I have to make my bed before I go to school.
- Make a decision
To decide what to do
Eg: “Have you made a decision yet?”
- Make a fortune
To make a huge amount of money
Eg: My uncle made a fortune in the software business.
- Make a fuss
To create unnecessary excitement or concern about something
Eg: I like people who achieve a lot without making a big fuss about what they’re doing.
- Make a living
To earn money for the things you need in life
Eg: It’s not easy to make a living when the economy’s so bad.
- Make a mess
To create an untidy or disorganized state or situation
Eg: If rich kids make a mess, their servants tidy things up again.
- Make a mistake
To do something that’s wrong or has bad results
Eg: Whenever we make mistakes, our teacher corrects them for us.
- Make a note (of)
To write down something so that you don’t forget it
Eg: I’d better make a note of that, or I might forget.
- Make a pass at
Flirt with someone
Eg: My best friend’s brother made a pass at me – he asked if I was single and tried to get my phone number.
- Make a profit
To make money from business or investments
Eg: Big companies employ smart people to ensure they pay very little tax on the huge profits they make.
- Make a reservation
To book or reserve a seat on a train, a table in a restaurant, a room in a hotel, …
Eg: Shall I make a reservation for 8 o’clock at that Japanese restaurant?
- Make a takeover bid
To try to get control of something
Eg: The company made a takeover bid for one of its rivals.
- Make an appearance
To appear; to appear in a performance
Eg: We waited forthirty minutes for the professor to make an appearance,then we went home.
- Make an effort
To put time and energy into doing something
Eg: You can’t learn a language without making an effort.
- Make an excuse
To give a reason for doing something you shouldn’t do, or for not doing something you should do
Eg: He got to work late and made some excuse about being stuck in traffic.
- Make an offer
To state a price you’re willing to pay for something
Eg: He made a generous offer, but I had to turn it down.
- Make contact
To contact a person or an organisation
Eg: After I get there, I’ll make contact with a number of local trading companies.
- Make friends
To form new friendships
Eg: Jenny finds it hard to make friends.
- Make peace
To end hostilities; to reach a peace agreement
Eg: Both countries can rebuild now that they have made peace with each other.
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