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A very basic yet difficult topic in English is when to use the verbs do and make. Some people say that we use the verb to with mental activities and make with more physical ones.

That doesn’t seem to be the case so my tip is: whenever you run into collocations with make or do, write them down and learn them by heart because there’s no logical way of knowing when to use one or the other.

Besides the plethora of phrasal verbs with the verbs do and make there are some very useful fixed expressions you should learn. Check them out.

You do

… a job (fazer um service)
… business with someone (fazer negócios com alguém)
… good (fazer bem)
… harm (fazer mal)
… some gardening (fazer jardinagem)
… somebody a favor (fazer um favor a alguém)
… the cooking (cozinhar)
… the dishes (lavar a louça)
… the housework (limpar a casa)
… the shopping (fazer as compras)
… your best (fazer o melhor)
… your homework (fazer a tarefa de casa)

You make

… a good or bad impression (deixar uma boa ou má impressão)
… noise (fazer barulho)
… a decision (tomar uma decisão)
… a face (fazer careta)
… a loss (ter uma perda)
… a mistake (cometer um erro)
… a phone call (fazer uma ligação)
… a point of doing something (fazer questão de fazer algo)
… a profit (ter lucro)
… a suggestion (fazer uma sugestão)
… an agreement (fazer um acordo)
… an attempt (fazer uma tentative)
… an effort (fazer um esforço)
… an exception (fazer uma exceção)
… an excuse (dar uma desculpa)
… arrangements (fazer acordos, arranjos)
… food (fazer comida)
… fun of (zombar de)
… love (fazer amor)
… some coffee (fazer café)
… the best of something (tirar o melhor de algo)
… war (fazer guerra)
… your bed (arrumar a cama)

Now you ask me, Adir, how am I ever going to learn all this? My answer: you don’t have to learn them all at once. Choose five expressions every day and work on them. You will be able to learn all of them in no time.

Well, this is it for today. See you next time!

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