Make vs. Do – English Grammar Exercises for B1
Read the story of a person talking to their family about moving to a new city. Choose the correct option (a, b, c, or d) to fill in the blank.
1 When I first moved to London, it was really hard to ______ new friends because everyone seemed so busy.
(a) doing
(b) find
(c) make
(d) do
2 My apartment was always messy in the beginning because I had to ______ all the housework by myself.
(a) clear
(b) doing
(c) make
(d) do
3 I ______ a huge mistake on my first day of work by taking the wrong train and arriving late.
(a) made
(b) had
(c) make
(d) did
4 Despite the language barrier, I always ______ my best to speak to the local shopkeepers.
(a) gave
(b) did
(c) doing
(d) made
5 Every night, I would ______ a phone call to you all just to hear a familiar voice.
(a) do
(b) make
(c) to make
(d) take
6 After two weeks of feeling lonely, I knew I had to ______ a real effort to go out and meet people.
(a) put
(b) do
(c) make
(d) makes
7 To interact with more locals, I decided to ______ an evening photography course.
(a) do
(b) make
(c) learn
(d) did
8 It took me a whole month to ______ the decision to finally join the neighborhood community club.
(a) making
(b) find
(c) do
(d) make
9 One day, my neighbor asked if I could ______ him a favor and look after his cat for the weekend.
(a) make
(b) give
(c) to do
(d) do
10 I was so nervous about attending the street party that I almost ______ an excuse not to go.
(a) made
(b) said
(c) did
(d) make
11 At first, the local slang was so confusing that nothing they said ______ any sense to me!
(a) had
(b) made
(c) did
(d) making
12 I accidentally dropped a heavy box while moving in, but luckily it didn’t ______ any damage to the floor.
(a) do
(b) doing
(c) create
(d) make
13 At the club meeting, someone ______ a great suggestion about exploring the city on weekends together.
(a) gave
(b) made
(c) did
(d) makes
14 After a few months, I was ______ quite well at my new job and felt much more confident.
(a) doing
(b) going
(c) making
(d) do
15 I really wanted to ______ a good impression on my new colleagues, so I baked them some cookies.
(a) build
(b) make
(c) do
(d) made
16 It was incredibly exhausting to ______ all the arrangements for my apartment lease in a foreign language.
(a) make
(b) making
(c) do
(d) set
17 Joining that local sports team really ______ wonders for my social life; I met so many amazing people.
(a) did
(b) doing
(c) created
(d) made
18 Initially, it was hard enough just to ______ a living in this expensive city, let alone go out and socialize.
(a) gain
(b) do
(c) make
(d) made
19 My new friends were incredibly kind; they always ______ allowances for my poor language skills and spoke slowly.
(a) gave
(b) did
(c) made
(d) making
20 Money was tight at the start, so I had to ______ without a lot of luxuries just to afford my rent.
(a) live
(b) do
(c) doing
(d) make
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (c)
Key: make
Why it is correct: “Make friends” is a fixed collocation. Friendship is an abstract concept that you create from nothing.
Error Analysis: – (d) do is the Common Mistake (students translate literally from their native language).
- (a) doing is a Structural Error (requires base verb after “hard to”).
- (b) find is a Meaning Trap (you can find friends, but the standard English phrase for establishing a new relationship is “make friends”).
2 (d)
Key: do
Why it is correct: We use “do” for daily tasks, chores, and obligations (do the housework, do the laundry).
Error Analysis: – (c) make is the Common Mistake.
- (b) doing is a Structural Error (requires base verb after “had to”).
- (a) clear is a Meaning Trap (you can clear a room, but not “clear the housework”).
3 (a)
Key: made
Why it is correct: The collocation is “make a mistake”. The sentence is in the past simple.
Error Analysis: – (d) did is the Common Mistake (confusing action with creation).
- (c) make is a Structural Error (wrong tense, needs past simple).
- (b) had is a Meaning Trap (you don’t “have” a mistake in English).
4 (b)
Key: did
Why it is correct: The phrase is “do your best” (past tense: did).
Error Analysis: – (d) made is the Common Mistake.
- (c) doing is a Structural Error.
- (a) gave is a Meaning Trap (you can “give it your all”, but you “do your best”).
5 (b)
Key: make
Why it is correct: The collocation is “make a phone call”. You are producing/creating the call.
Error Analysis: – (a) do is the Common Mistake.
- (c) to make is a Structural Error (modal “would” is followed by base verb).
- (d) take is a Meaning Trap (you “take” a call when answering, but “make” a call when calling someone).
6 (c)
Key: make
Why it is correct: The collocation is “make an effort”.
Error Analysis: – (b) do is the Common Mistake.
- (d) makes is a Structural Error (infinitive required after “had to”).
- (a) put is a Meaning Trap (you can “put effort into” something, but you “make an effort”).
7 (a)
Key: do
Why it is correct: We use “do” for studying or completing a course/test.
Error Analysis: – (b) make is the Common Mistake.
- (d) did is a Structural Error (infinitive required after “decided to”).
- (c) learn is a Meaning Trap (you learn a subject, but you “do/take” a course).
8 (d)
Key: make
Why it is correct: The collocation is “make a decision”.
Error Analysis: – (c) do is the Common Mistake.
- (a) making is a Structural Error.
- (b) find is a Meaning Trap (“find a decision” does not exist; you “reach” or “make” a decision).
9 (d)
Key: do
Why it is correct: The fixed phrase is “do someone a favor”.
Error Analysis: – (a) make is the Common Mistake.
- (c) to do is a Structural Error (modal “could” requires base verb).
- (b) give is a Meaning Trap (you give help, but you do a favor).
10 (a)
Key: made
Why it is correct: The collocation is “make an excuse” (past tense: made).
Error Analysis: – (c) did is the Common Mistake.
- (d) make is a Structural Error (requires past tense due to “was so nervous”).
- (b) said is a Meaning Trap (you “say” words, but you “make” an excuse).
11 (b)
Key: made
Why it is correct: The fixed phrase is “make sense”. Since the context is past tense, “made” is required.
Error Analysis: – (c) did is the Common Mistake.
- (d) making is a Structural Error.
- (a) had is a Meaning Trap (things have meaning, but they make sense).
12 (a)
Key: do
Why it is correct: We use “do” for harm or damage (do damage).
Error Analysis: – (d) make is the Common Mistake.
- (b) doing is a Structural Error (requires base verb after “didn’t”).
- (c) create is a Meaning Trap (sounds logical, but grammatically unnatural for “damage”).
13 (b)
Key: made
Why it is correct: The collocation is “make a suggestion”.
Error Analysis: – (c) did is the Common Mistake.
- (d) makes is a Structural Error (past context requires “made”).
- (a) gave is a Meaning Trap (you give advice, but make a suggestion).
14 (a)
Key: doing
Why it is correct: The phrase “do well” means to be successful or perform nicely. Past continuous requires V-ing.
Error Analysis: – (c) making is the Common Mistake.
- (d) do is a Structural Error (needs continuous form after “was”).
- (b) going is a Meaning Trap (things can “be going well”, but a person “is doing well”).
15 (b)
Key: make
Why it is correct: The collocation is “make an impression”.
Error Analysis: – (c) do is the Common Mistake.
- (d) made is a Structural Error (infinitive required after “wanted to”).
- (a) build is a Meaning Trap (you build a reputation, but make an impression).
16 (a)
Key: make
Why it is correct: The collocation is “make arrangements” (meaning to plan or organize).
Error Analysis: – (c) do is the Common Mistake.
- (b) making is a Structural Error (requires infinitive after “exhausting to”).
- (d) set is a Meaning Trap (you “set up” a meeting, but you “make” arrangements).
17 (a)
Key: did
Why it is correct: The idiom is “do wonders” (to have a highly beneficial effect).
Error Analysis: – (d) made is the Common Mistake.
- (b) doing is a Structural Error (requires past simple main verb).
- (c) created is a Meaning Trap (wonders imply creation in a literal sense, but the idiom specifically uses “do”).
18 (c)
Key: make
Why it is correct: The phrase is “make a living” (to earn money to support oneself).
Error Analysis: – (b) do is the Common Mistake.
- (d) made is a Structural Error (requires base verb after “to”).
- (a) gain is a Meaning Trap (you gain wealth, but make a living).
19 (c)
Key: made
Why it is correct: The idiom is “make allowances for” (to be tolerant of someone’s mistakes because of their circumstances).
Error Analysis: – (b) did is the Common Mistake.
- (d) making is a Structural Error.
- (a) gave is a Meaning Trap (you give someone a break, but you make allowances).
20 (b)
Key: do
Why it is correct: The phrasal verb “do without” means to manage to survive or function without something you need or want.
Error Analysis: – (d) make is the Common Mistake.
- (c) doing is a Structural Error (requires base verb after “had to”).
- (a) live is a Meaning Trap (you can “live without”, but in the context of managing resources, “do without” is the precise B1/B2 phrasal verb tested here).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
The Golden Rule of “Make vs. Do”
- Use “DO” for:
- Actions, Obligations, and Chores: Things you must complete or repetitive tasks (e.g., do the housework, do a course, do your best).
- General Activities: When talking about tasks without specifying an object (e.g., do something, do nothing, doing well).
- Effects & Impact: (e.g., do damage, do wonders, do someone a favor).
- Use “MAKE” for:
- Creation and Production: When you create something from scratch, or produce a tangible/intangible result (e.g., make friends, make a phone call, make an excuse).
- Plans and Decisions: Cognitive processes that result in a conclusion (e.g., make a decision, make arrangements, make a suggestion).
- Speaking and Sounds: (e.g., make a point, make sense, make an impression).
Mental Trick for B1 Learners: If you are “performing” an action that already exists, use DO. If you are “producing” an outcome that didn’t exist before, use MAKE. (You don’t perform a friendship, you produce it -> Make friends).