Collocations with DO and MAKE

She did a great job organizing the conference.

• do homework

Do your homework now if you want to spend more time with your friends!

• do your hair (= style your hair)

I need to do my hair before we go there.

• do the housework

After I arrive home from school, I will do the housework.

• do the laundry

I have to do the laundry – all my clothes are dirty!

• do the nails (paint the nails)

I can’t open this pack, I just did my nails and they are still wet.

• do a report (write a report)

I’m going to do that report in the morning. 

• do the right thing

I wanted to do the right thing but they didn’t let me.

• do the shopping

We did some shopping, then we went home.

• do work

I can’t go out with you these days – I have to do some work for my parents.

• do well / good / badly

She did pretty well on the test.

He did badly his homework.

They did a good work.

• do your best

Don’t worry about the mark – just do your best.

 

The most Common English Collocations with MAKE are:

• make an attempt / effort (to try)

Make an attempt, maybe you will get the job!

I’m making an effort to pay all my bills till the end of the week.

• make breakfast/lunch/dinner

I’m making lunch – don’t buy junk food!

• make the bed

I am always making my bed before I go to school.

• make a cup of coffee / tea

Could you make a cup of tea, please?

• make a comment

Mum made many comments about my clothes last night.

• make a complaint

I’ve made a complaint about my internet service twice and the problem is still there.

• make a confession

The man made a confession to his friends: he was the one who robbed the bank.

• make a choice / decision

I’ve made a choice – I’m going to study at the Oxford University next year.

They made a decision about our salary yesterday morning.

• make a difference

Eating healthy food really made a huge difference in my life!

• make a discovery

I’ve just made a discovery that can change the world.

• make an exception

We’ll make an exception only this time, don’t be late again.

• make an excuse

He made a lot of excuses not to meet me.

• make a fortune

Richard made a fortune after he started his acting career.

• make friends

It’s hard to make friends when you socialize very little.

• make fun of someone (tease / mock someone)

The other kids made fun of me when I first came in the class.

• make a joke

He tried to make a joke, but nobody listened to him.

• make a list

I’m making a list of everything we need to prepare that recipe for dinner.

• make a mistake

He made a few mistakes on the test but he passed it.

• make money / a profit

I love my job, but I don’t make enough money.

My company made a huge profit last year.

• make an observation

I’d like to make an observation about your project if you don’t mind.

• make a pass at (flirt with someone)

One of my best friends made a pass at my sister.

• make a phone call

I have to make a phone call to that company immediately.

• make plans

We’re making plans for our next holiday.

• make a point

My boss made a good point about our work, we should think more about it.

• make a prediction

I can’t make a prediction about our future, all I know is I’ll be with you till the end.

• make progress

I feel I am making a good progress in learning Russian language.

• make a promise

She made me a promise when we were young, but she doesn’t remember about it anymore.

• make a reservation

I’ve made a reservation for her birthday at her favourite restaurant.

• make a sandwich

Do you want me to make you a sandwich?

• make a salad

I made a salad for him last night.

• make a speech

I had to make the speech for the six o’clock meeting.

• make a suggestion

Can I make a suggestion about this crisis? – We should reduce the costs with this old equipment and buy a new one.

• make sure (to confirm)

Can you make sure we have all the ingredients?

• make up (resolve a problem in a relationship)

Tom and his parents finally made up after the fight they had 2 days ago.

• make up your mind (to decide)

Shall I use red colour or blue for this wall? I can’t make up my mind!