Showing posts with label DO vs MAKE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DO vs MAKE. Show all posts

Monday, February 17, 2014

RAPPING about DO and MAKE


Make or do? Do or make?
Thinking about it will make your brain ache.

- Fluency MC


The challenge of learning to use DO or MAKE can be a daunting one. Daunting enough to give you a headache.

Unless...




Unless you're learning it through the Fluency MC's fun rap song about the different ways to use the two often-confused verbs. In fact, super fun English teacher Fluency MC (aka Jason R. Levine) frequently uses collocations (or collos) - which are small chunks of language commonly used together - in order to help us learn authentic use of language. And he usually presents his lessons as fun and catchy rap songs so that what we learn, sticks!

So for today's post, we invite all our English Users to check out the Fluency MC's rap song about DO and MAKE. First, view it and enjoy the first time. When you finish, make note of the collocations he uses (shown in bold letters below) that are new to you. Then, view the video a second time and focus more on listening and think about what he says, then about reading.

And finally, answer the following questions:

1. Which of the things that Fluency MC says he does, do you usually DO?
2. Which of the things that Fluency MC says he does, do you usually MAKE?
3. Which of the things that Fluency MC says he does, did you DO this week?
4. Which of the things that Fluency MC says he does, did you MAKE this month?



Make or do? Do or make?
Thinking about it will make your brain ache.
Do yourself a favor. Give yourself a break.
Relax and Repeat, for Fluency’s sake.
I make sure to do my homework; then, I hit the sack.
I make a to-do list to stay on track.
I need to do a few errands; I’ll be right back.
Make yourself at home; be my guest; make a snack!

Do or make? Make or do?
If you’ve heard that they’re different, it’s not exactly true.
Many languages have one word, not two.
When you Collo, it’ll follow and make sense to you.
I make the bed in the morning and do laundry at night.
I don’t make fun of people-that’s impolite or
make a fist or do harm to someone in a fight.
I’d rather do good, make peace, and unite.
You’ve got to do your duty to make things right.
Let’s make a plan to eat out at this restaurant I know.
They make an excellent brunch; can you make time to go?
You’ll have the chance to make friends and make some conversation.
I can make a call now to make a reservation.
You’ll thank me for making such a great recommendation!

Do or make? Make or do?
If you’ve heard that they’re different, it’s not exactly true.
Many languages have one word, not two.
When you Collo, it’ll follow and make sense to you.
When I run out of food, I leave the house to do the shopping.
I do chores like the vacuuming, the sweeping and the mopping.
I’ll make a gourmet dinner and also do the dishes.
On birthdays we make cakes, light candles, and make wishes.

Do or make? Make or do?
If you’ve heard that they’re different, it’s not exactly true.
Many languages have one word, not two.
When you Collo, it’ll follow and make sense to you.
Do research; do experiments; develop your vision.
Make a promise to yourself that when you make a decision,
you’ll make a point to do it well, and then
you’ll make a commitment to do it just as well again.
Try to do good deeds and make a goal to do your best,
though you’re sure to make mistakes or even make a big mess.
To make progress, make great effort. That’s the key.
Make a choice to learn the truth and it will set you free.
Do the math. Make it last.

Peace, Fluency MC.

Enjoy other Fluency MC songs and be sure to give him a like on Facebook.

Friday, March 5, 2010

DO vs MAKE: "Make a choice and just do it!"

One of the most challenging things to learn in English as a Second Language (ESL) is when to use DO and when to use MAKE.

The truth is that there really aren’t fixed rules about this. But fortunately, there are clear patterns to follow. Here they are:



DO


Used when referring to work, an action, an activity, a task or a desired result in a generic way. They key point here is that all this DOING does not (usually) produce a
physical object.


do
the work

do your homework
do your job
do a crossword puzzle
do the shopping
do the laundry
do the washing
do the washing up
do anything
do everything
do nothing
do badly
do business
do the dishes
do a favour
do good
do harm
do time - (to go to prison)
do well
do your best
do your hair
do your nails
do your worst
do it - (that's right... Nike didn't invent the phrase, but they made it famous)

MAKE

Used when referring to constructing, building or creating something physical or tangible.

make a cake
make a house

make food
make coffee
make breakfast / lunch / dinner
make a dress
make a work of art

Also used for a number of standard expressions that follow no particular pattern. You just need to learn them.

make amends
make arrangements
make believe - (to pretend)
make a choice
make a comment
make a decision
make a difference
make an effort
make an enquiry
make an excuse
make a fool of yourself
make a fortune
make friends
make a fuss
make a journey
make love
make a mess
make a mistake
make money
make a move
make a noise
make a phone call
make a plan
make a point
make a profit
make a promise
make a remark
make a sound
make a speech
make a suggestion
make time
make a visit
make your bed - (to prepare the bed for sleeping in)