English Exercise: Do and Make in the Negative

English Exercise: Do and Make in the Negative

Choose the correct expression with make or do. Click the correct answer to complete each sentence.

Score: 0 / 10
1. Despite their efforts, the new advertising campaign failed to ______ people interested in the product.
a) do b) make
2. After facing several setbacks, he couldn't ______ in the music business.
a) make a comeback b) do a comeback
3. Following a mistake, the company failed to ______ to fix the problem.
a) make any work b) do any work
4. Despite their efforts, the CEO believed they didn't ______ as well as they could have.
a) do the job b) make the job
5. The R&D department didn't ______ before presenting the new product to the CEO.
a) make a proper test b) do a proper test
6. During the crisis, the company didn't ______ to protect its reputation.
a) do anything b) make anything
7. The sales team didn't ______ to explain the product's special features.
a) do much of an effort b) make much of an effort
8. Despite their efforts, the company couldn't ______ with customers unhappy with their services.
a) make friends b) do friends
9. The project leader decided not to ______ about the importance of meeting the deadline.
a) do a statement b) make a statement
10. Despite their efforts, the company's attempts to use eco-friendly materials didn't ______ to their sales margin.
a) make a difference b) do a difference
11. The team didn't ______ enough research before launching the product.
a) make enough research b) do enough research
12. She didn't ______ any progress in her new role.
a) make any progress b) do any progress
13. They didn't ______ the cleaning before the guests arrived.
a) do the cleaning b) make the cleaning
14. He didn't ______ a good impression at the interview.
a) make a good impression b) do a good impression
15. We didn't ______ our homework on time.
a) make our homework b) do our homework
16. The company didn't ______ any money last year.
a) make any money b) do any money
17. He didn't ______ the shopping yesterday.
a) make the shopping b) do the shopping
18. They didn't ______ a decision in time.
a) do a decision b) make a decision
19. She didn't ______ a mistake in the report.
a) make a mistake b) do a mistake
20. We didn't ______ enough exercise this week.
a) do enough exercise b) make enough exercise
21. He didn't ______ a phone call as promised.
a) make a phone call b) do a phone call
22. They didn't ______ any effort to improve the situation.
a) make any effort b) do any effort
23. I didn't ______ the washing-up last night.
a) do the washing-up b) make the washing-up
24. She didn't ______ any changes to the document.
a) make any changes b) do any changes
25. We didn't ______ business with that company again.
a) do business b) make business

Make & Do Explanation

Make vs Do: The Basic Difference

Make and do are both often translated as “machen” in German, but they are used differently in English.

Use make when you create, produce, build or prepare something.

Use do when you perform a task, job, activity or routine action.

[Make benutzt man, wenn man etwas erstellt, produziert, baut oder vorbereitet. Do benutzt man, wenn man eine Aufgabe, Arbeit, Tätigkeit oder Routinehandlung erledigt.]

Make

Make often means that something is created or produced.

[Make bedeutet oft, dass etwas hergestellt, erstellt oder produziert wird.]

Examples with Make

  • make a cake [einen Kuchen machen/backen]
  • make coffee [Kaffee machen]
  • make a decision [eine Entscheidung treffen]
  • make a mistake [einen Fehler machen]
  • make a phone call [einen Anruf machen]
  • make a plan [einen Plan machen]
  • make changes [Änderungen vornehmen]
  • make progress [Fortschritte machen]

Do

Do often means that you complete an action, task or activity.

[Do bedeutet oft, dass man eine Handlung, Aufgabe oder Tätigkeit erledigt.]

Examples with Do

  • do homework [Hausaufgaben machen]
  • do exercise [Sport machen]
  • do the shopping [einkaufen gehen / den Einkauf erledigen]
  • do the cleaning [sauber machen]
  • do the washing-up [den Abwasch machen]
  • do a job [eine Arbeit erledigen]
  • do business [Geschäfte machen]
  • do someone a favour [jemandem einen Gefallen tun]

Common Rule

Use make when the result is something you can see, hear, use or experience.

Use do when the focus is on the action, activity or task.

[Benutze make, wenn das Ergebnis wichtig ist. Benutze do, wenn die Handlung oder Aufgabe wichtig ist.]

Quick Comparison

Make Do
make dinner
[Abendessen machen]		 do homework
[Hausaufgaben machen]
make a mistake
[einen Fehler machen]		 do the cleaning
[sauber machen]
make a decision
[eine Entscheidung treffen]		 do exercise
[Sport machen]
make progress
[Fortschritte machen]		 do a task
[eine Aufgabe erledigen]

Summary

  • Make = create, produce, prepare or cause something.
  • Do = complete a task, job, activity or routine action.

[Zusammenfassung: make bedeutet etwas erstellen, herstellen oder verursachen. do bedeutet eine Aufgabe, Arbeit oder Tätigkeit erledigen.]

Make & Do Exercises 2 (1–25)

Make & Do Exercises 2

Use make when you create, produce, prepare or cause something. Use do when you complete a task, job, activity or routine.

[Kurz erklärt auf Deutsch: make = etwas herstellen, vorbereiten oder verursachen. do = eine Aufgabe, Arbeit oder Tätigkeit erledigen.]

Score: 0 / 25
1. She decided to ______ a cake for the party.
a) do b) make
2. I need to ______ my homework before dinner.
a) do b) make
3. Can you ______ your laptop to the meeting tomorrow?
a) take b) bring
4. I usually ______ a shower in the morning.
a) have b) do
5. Please ______ a photo of us!
a) make b) take
6. He wants to ______ a decision quickly.
a) make b) do
7. We need to ______ some work this afternoon.
a) make b) do
8. Don’t forget to ______ your umbrella with you.
a) take b) bring
9. I will ______ some snacks to the party.
a) take b) bring
10. Let’s ______ lunch together.
a) have b) do
11. She needs to ______ a plan for the project.
a) do b) make
12. They ______ business in many countries.
a) do b) make
13. Can you ______ a seat, please?
a) bring b) take
14. I always ______ coffee in the morning.
a) have b) do
15. He forgot to ______ his phone to work.
a) take b) bring
16. Let’s ______ a list of tasks.
a) make b) do
17. I have to ______ the cleaning today.
a) make b) do
18. Please ______ your shoes off.
a) take b) have
19. I will ______ dessert for tonight.
a) do b) make
20. She ______ a lot of exercise every day.
a) does b) makes
21. We will ______ a meeting at 10 a.m.
a) do b) have
22. Can you ______ this bag for me?
a) take b) make
23. He will ______ his friends to the party.
a) take b) bring
24. Let’s ______ a break.
a) take b) make
25. I need to ______ a phone call.
a) do b) make