Make vs. Do – English Grammar Exercises for B1
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence. Read the text carefully, as all questions are part of a continuous message from a group leader to the camping members.
1 To start, we need to ______ a detailed plan for our camping trip next weekend.
(a) do
(b) make
(c) making
(d) write
2 I am going to ______ a list of all the essential camping gear we must bring.
(a) make
(b) do
(c) write
(d) making
3 Tomorrow afternoon, Sarah will ______ the shopping to buy all the necessary food and water.
(a) make
(b) does
(c) go
(d) do
4 Please ______ sure that your sleeping bags are warm enough for the cold nights in the forest.
(a) keep
(b) make
(c) do
(d) makes
5 I expect everyone to ______ their best to help set up the tents quickly once we arrive.
(a) doing
(b) make
(c) do
(d) give
6 We haven’t chosen the exact campsite yet, so we need to ______ a final decision tonight.
(a) make
(b) take
(c) do
(d) made
7 Have you already ______ the packing, or do you still need to put things in your backpack?
(a) done
(b) do
(c) made
(d) prepared
8 Everyone must ______ a real effort to wake up at 5:00 AM on the day of departure.
(a) making
(b) put
(c) make
(d) do
9 In the woods, there will be plenty of physical work to ______, like gathering firewood.
(a) do
(b) make
(c) doing
(d) act
10 If anyone knows a safer hiking trail, feel free to ______ a suggestion in our group chat.
(a) give
(b) make
(c) do
(d) to make
11 In the evening, Mark and I are going to ______ a campfire so we can cook the sausages.
(a) make
(b) burn
(c) do
(d) making
12 Could you ______ me a huge favor and bring the extra flashlight from your garage?
(a) give
(b) do
(c) make
(d) to do
13 I once forgot my insect repellent on a trip, and I don’t want to ______ that mistake again.
(a) do
(b) have
(c) made
(d) make
14 We must remember not to ______ any damage to the environment while we are in the national park.
(a) make
(b) do
(c) doing
(d) create
15 Your backpack is huge! You might need to ______ some room in the trunk of the car.
(a) empty
(b) make
(c) do
(d) to making
16 If it rains, we will have to stay in the tents and try not to ______ a mess with our muddy boots.
(a) do
(b) makes
(c) leave
(d) make
17 I have already ______ all the necessary arrangements with the national park ranger.
(a) make
(b) prepared
(c) done
(d) made
18 A weekend away from the busy city will definitely ______ wonders for our mental health.
(a) doing
(b) bring
(c) do
(d) make
19 The campsite rule says no pets, but the manager decided to ______ an exception for Max’s guide dog.
(a) allow
(b) do
(c) make
(d) made
20 Bringing a proper first aid kit can truly ______ the difference between a minor scratch and a ruined trip.
(a) make
(b) create
(c) do
(d) to make
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (b) make
- Why it is correct: “Make a plan” is the correct collocation. A plan is a concept you actively generate and formulate from your mind.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “do” is a Common Mistake. (c) “making” is a Structural Error after “need to”. (d) “write” is a Meaning Trap (“write a plan” is understandable, but “make a plan” is the standard idiom for organizing).
2 (a) make
- Why it is correct: “Make a list” means you are drafting and producing a new document or text.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) “do” is a Common Mistake. (d) “making” is a Structural Error. (c) “write” is a Meaning Trap (you write words, but you make a list).
3 (d) do
- Why it is correct: “Do the shopping” is a fixed phrase referring to the routine activity of buying necessities.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “make” is a Common Mistake. (b) “does” is a Structural Error after the modal “will”. (c) “go” is a Meaning Trap (we say “go shopping”, not “go the shopping”).
4 (b) make
- Why it is correct: “Make sure” means to confirm or establish a fact.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “do” is a Common Mistake. (d) “makes” is a Structural Error (imperative sentences require the base verb). (a) “keep” is a Meaning Trap.
5 (c) do
- Why it is correct: “Do your best” means to execute an action with maximum effort.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) “make” is a Common Mistake. (a) “doing” is a Structural Error. (d) “give” is a Meaning Trap.
6 (a) make
- Why it is correct: “Make a decision” represents producing a choice after thinking.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “do” is a Common Mistake. (d) “made” is a Structural Error after “need to”. (b) “take” is a Meaning Trap (used in some languages, but unnatural in English here).
7 (a) done
- Why it is correct: “Do the packing” refers to the chore or task of putting things into bags.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “made” is a Common Mistake. (b) “do” is a Structural Error (needs the past participle “done” for Present Perfect). (d) “prepared” is a Meaning Trap.
8 (c) make
- Why it is correct: “Make an effort” means you are generating the energy to accomplish a goal.
- Distractor Analysis: (d) “do” is a Common Mistake. (a) “making” is a Structural Error. (b) “put” is a Meaning Trap (you “put effort into“, you don’t “put an effort”).
9 (a) do
- Why it is correct: “Do work” applies to performing physical or mental tasks.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) “make” is a Common Mistake. (c) “doing” is a Structural Error after “to”. (d) “act” is a Meaning Trap.
10 (b) make
- Why it is correct: “Make a suggestion” means producing an idea to share with others.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “do” is a Common Mistake. (d) “to make” is a Structural Error (the “to” is already in the sentence before the blank). (a) “give” is a Meaning Trap.
11 (a) make
- Why it is correct: “Make a fire” is the natural collocation for building and starting a campfire.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “do” is a Common Mistake. (d) “making” is a Structural Error after “going to”. (b) “burn” is a Meaning Trap (“burn a fire” is redundant; wood burns, you make the fire).
12 (b) do
- Why it is correct: “Do someone a favor” is a standard phrase for performing a helpful act.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “make” is a Common Mistake. (d) “to do” is a Structural Error. (a) “give” is a Meaning Trap.
13 (d) make
- Why it is correct: “Make a mistake” refers to producing an error.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “do” is a Common Mistake. (c) “made” is a Structural Error after “want to”. (b) “have” is a Meaning Trap.
14 (b) do
- Why it is correct: “Do damage” refers to the negative physical impact caused by an action.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “make” is a Common Mistake. (c) “doing” is a Structural Error. (d) “create” is a Meaning Trap.
15 (b) make
- Why it is correct: “Make room” means to create physical space by moving things around.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “do” is a Common Mistake. (d) “to making” is a Structural Error. (a) “empty” is a Meaning Trap (“empty room” means a room with nothing in it, not creating space).
16 (d) make
- Why it is correct: “Make a mess” means creating a dirty or untidy state.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) “do” is a Common Mistake. (b) “makes” is a Structural Error. (c) “leave” is a Meaning Trap.
17 (d) made
- Why it is correct: “Make arrangements” means to produce plans and organize preparations.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “done” is a Common Mistake. (a) “make” is a Structural Error (requires past participle “made” for Present Perfect). (b) “prepared” is a Meaning Trap (“prepared arrangements” is redundant).
18 (c) do
- Why it is correct: “Do wonders” is an idiom for having a highly beneficial effect.
- Distractor Analysis: (d) “make” is a Common Mistake. (a) “doing” is a Structural Error. (b) “bring” is a Meaning Trap.
19 (c) make
- Why it is correct: “Make an exception” means to actively create a special rule that deviates from the norm.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) “do” is a Common Mistake. (d) “made” is a Structural Error after “decided to”. (a) “allow” is a Meaning Trap.
20 (a) make
- Why it is correct: “Make a difference” means to create a significant change in a situation.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) “do” is a Common Mistake. (d) “to make” is a Structural Error after the modal “can”. (b) “create” is a Meaning Trap (logical, but not the fixed idiom).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 “MAKE” focuses on CREATION & PLANNING:
When you organize a trip, many things don’t physically exist until you formulate them. You bring them from your mind into reality.
- Core Rule: Use “Make” when you construct, draft, or produce something new.
- Camping Examples: make a list, make a plan, make arrangements, make a decision, make a fire, make room, make sure.
2 “DO” focuses on TASKS, CHORES & EXECUTION:
Once the plan is made, you have to execute the physical actions to prepare for the trip.
- Core Rule: Use “Do” for routine activities, chores, tasks, or the general impact of an action.
- Camping Examples: do the shopping, do the packing, do work, do someone a favor, do your best, do damage.
Pro Tip for Planners: First, you sit down and MAKE a list and MAKE a plan. Then, you stand up and DO the shopping and DO the packing to prepare!