Both translate to 'hacer' in Spanish, but each has its own role in English.
Verb. Used to create, produce, or build something. The result is a product or something new.
She made a delicious cake.
Ella hizo un pastel delicioso.
He makes furniture in his workshop.
Él hace muebles en su taller.
Can you make a reservation for two?
¿Puedes hacer una reservación para dos?
Verb. Used for actions, tasks, or activities. No physical product is necessarily created.
I need to do my homework.
Necesito hacer mi tarea.
What do you do for a living?
¿A qué te dedicas?
She does yoga every morning.
Ella hace yoga cada mañana.
Common mistake
Using 'do' where 'make' is needed or vice versa. Wrong: "I did a mistake." (correct: I made a mistake)
Trick to remember it
'Make' = you produce something (a cake, money, noise, a decision). 'Do' = you perform an activity (homework, exercise, business, a favor).
Quick rule
Is the result something concrete you can point to? Use 'make'. Is it an activity or task? Use 'do'.
Did you know?
Some expressions are fixed collocations you need to memorize: 'make a mistake' (never 'do'), 'do homework' (never 'make'), 'make a decision', 'do business', 'make money', 'do the dishes'. English has no perfect logic for all of them.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
I always ____ a lot of mistakes when I'm nervous.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Can you ____ me a favor?
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Is the result something concrete you can point to? Use 'make'. Is it an activity or task? Use 'do'.
Using 'do' where 'make' is needed or vice versa. Wrong: "I did a mistake." (correct: I made a mistake)
'Make' = you produce something (a cake, money, noise, a decision). 'Do' = you perform an activity (homework, exercise, business, a favor).
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy