Quando si usa

Esempio

To do significa fare in generale,

senza specificare esattamente di
che cosa si tratta.

What are you doing

tonight?
(Che cosa fai questa sera?)

Si usa to do quando si parla del

lavoro, degli studi, di un compito
specifico che si svolge.

What do you do?

(Che lavoro fai?)
I'm doing a research on
this subject.
(Sto facendo una ricerca su
questo argomento.)
I must do the ironing.
(Devo stirare.)

Si usa to do per gli sport praticati

senza luso della palla, espressi da
un sostantivo.

I do aerobics.
(Faccio/ pratico laerobica.)

Si usa to do nelle seguenti

espressioni:
To do an exercise: fare un
esercizio
To do someone a favour: fare un
favore a qualcuno

Could you do me a favour?

(Potresti farmi un favore?)

To do one's best: fare del proprio

meglio

You should do your best.

(Dovresti fare del tuo
meglio.)

To do the shopping: fare la spesa

I have a lot of homework to
To do the homework: fare i compiti do.
(Ho molti compiti da fare.)
To do the washing up: lavare i
piatti

Can you do the washing

up?
(Puoi lavare i piatti?)

To do the cleaning: fare le pulizie

Si usa do/does/did come ausiliare
delle forme interrogative e negative
dei verbi non ausiliari al Simple
Present, al Simple Past e
all'Imperativo.

Do you like dancing?

(Ti piace ballare?)
I don't like dancing.
(Non mi piace ballare)
I didn't go to the party last

night.
(Non sono andato alla festa
ieri sera.)
You don't speak German,
do you?
(Non parli tedesco, vero?)
Lo si pu usare anche in frasi
affermative, in questo caso ha lo
scopo di enfatizzare ci che si sta
dicendo.

Yes, I do speak German!

(Ma si, parlo tedesco!
Do usato come ausiliare in
frase affermativa rafforza ci
che si sta dicendo.)

When 'do' or 'make' are used as main verbs it can be confusing to ESL learners. The verb
'make' goes with some words and the verb 'do' with other words.

Do
We use the verb 'do' when someone performs an action, activity or task.
do a crossword
do the ironing
do the laundry
do the washing
do the washing up
'Do' is often used when referring to work of any kind.
do your work
do homework
do housework
do your job
!Note - these activities do not usually produce a physical object.
'Do' for General Ideas
Use the verb 'do' when speaking about things in general. In other words, to describe an action without
saying exactly what the action is. This form is often used with the words 'something, nothing, anything,
everything, etc.'

I'm not doing anything today.

He does everything for his mother.
She's doing nothing.
Important Expressions with 'Do'
There are a number of standard expressions that take the verb 'do'. The best solution is to try to learn
them.
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

Make
We use the verb 'make' for constructing, building or creating
make a dress
make food
make a cup of tea / coffee
'Make' is often used when referring to preparing food of any kind.
make a meal - breakfast / lunch / dinner
!Note - these activities usually create something that you can touch.
Important Expressions with 'Make'
There are a number of standard expressions that take the verb 'make'. The best solution is to try 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 payment
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)

DO AND MAKE
a good job

it yourself

the ironing

the shopp

a course

a suggestion

the washing up

studies

a subject

the dusting

money

room

the bed

well / badly

a scene

a speech

sense

wonders

sure/certain

a noise

up your mind

plans
a promise

progres

the mos

a comp

the honours

an appointment

a favour

your duty

an offer

a phone call

harm

light of

a journey

a cake

a guess

a decis

a fortune

fun of someone

friends

an effort

a sum

some more exercises

1.-I hate the housework every day.

2.-She had to repeat the composition because she had a lot

of spelling mistakes.
3.-Be serious ,Why are you always fun of everything?
4.-They were so much noise that someone phoned the police
5.-I always the ironing and
she the washing up
6.-The bestman has to a speech

a compliment

exercise

war /

amen

7.-Could you -----me a favour?

8.-I was the shopping when I met Rosemary
9.-I have an appointment with the dentist
10.-She always a delicious cake for my birthday
11.-The children always

their homework before watching tv

12.-My company a lot of money last year.

13.-She. a great effort and improved a lot
14.-I cant exercise everyday but at least I walk an hour a day
15.-If you wear this hat everybody will -------fun of you
16. She an excellent suggestion bur nobody answered
17.-She is Law at Oxford University
18.-This a difficult decision to. but I thing it is necessary
19.-she a fortune by selling dolls
20.-Ill sure he has understood