What is the difference between ’do’ and ’make’?

Two verbs that are often confused. We explain how to distinguish between them and use them correctly.

Make. This verb can have a large number of fields of application and different connotations, although its meaning is almost always linked to activity.

For a speaker of Spanish it may be easy to use this verb, especially considering that we use it for a wide variety of situations. However, when speaking another language we may encounter a complication: we find ourselves with 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 referring to doing an action. **Doing something" or "Making something"? What is the difference between "to do" and "to make"? **

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 English as "to do", and they imply the performance of some kind of activity. It is not uncommon for speakers of other languages to confuse the two verbs.

However, although it can be confusing and complicated to understand for a non-native speaker, the truth is that the verbs "to do" and "to make" have a series of characteristics that make them distinguishable. In the following, and throughout this article, we will try to determine what these differences are.

1. Approach

Theoretically, the main difference between the two verbs is that the verb "to do" is used to talk about carrying out an activity.The use of "to make" is closer to the idea of creating or elaborating something, 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 elaborating something, focusing more on the result of the action.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 tendency. Some examples are the following:

• I'm doing sport (Estoy haciendo deporte).
• He made the effort to come thought he was sick.

Level of specificity

Another main difference can be found in the fact that as a general rule the verb to make" refers to a specific act or action, whereas "to do" refers to a specific act or action.while "to do" refers to general and not very specific activities. Some examples are the following:

• Do some thinking
• I'm making some furniture for my house.

Product or non-product?

In both cases we are talking about the performance of some kind of action.. However, sometimes it is possible to observe that while the verb "to do" refers to the fact of doing an action in itself, which usually does not conclude with the creation of something, the verb "to make" is used in those actions that have a palpable result in the form of some kind of product of the action, which can be physical or not (we can for example talk about commitments and/or symbolic elements). For example:

• She's going to do some research.
• We once made a boat.

4. Auxiliary

The verb "to do" is often used as an auxiliary verb in other sentences in which it does not have the real meaning of "to do".. It is frequently used in interrogative sentences, with more emphasis on the specific action to be performed than on the act of doing it. In fact, if we try to translate many English sentences into Spanish, the verb "to do" is often lost. The verb make tends to have more prominence, and when it is used it is usually to emphasize the fact of having performed an action or created something. Two examples are as follows.

I'm making a promise". Did you know that? (Did you know that?)

5. Knowledge of what is happening

Linked to the level of specificity or generality, we can find that the verb "to do" can be used when talking about those actions of which we have no prior knowledge, the activity itself is not indicated, or which have not appeared in the conversation until then. The verb "to make" usually refers to much more concrete elements that are marked in the conversation (even if at the same moment in the conversation). (even if it is at the same moment the sentence is uttered). To exemplify this, here are two sentences:

• She's 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 sentences in which we are talking about an interaction between two people or beings, whether or not they are conversational elements.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 speaks of ideas, acts and more individual elements. Three sentences, for example, could be the following:

• I'm going to make a speech (Voy a hacer un discurso).
• We have a suggestion to make
• I'm gonna do the dishes