Let’s be honest, sometimes English can be confusing. Sometimes when learning English it is easy to mix up words or be unsure when to use them.
I often hear German speakers who are learning English make mistakes with the words ‘make’ and ‘do’. Often (but not always) it is because the German word ‘machen’ is mistranslated.
There are many phrases and expressions that exist in English where there is no real rule to help you remember the difference between ‘make’ and ‘do’. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below. Hopefully they will make things clearer for you.
Do harm.
E.g. She spilt some red wine on her white shirt and tried to clean it, but it did more harm than good.
Make a suggestion.
E.g. Can I make a suggestion? How about contacting the client to get more information before we decide how to proceed.
Make your mind up.
E.g. Do you want the job in Cologne or the job in Bonn. It’s decision time. Make your mind up!
Have fun learning English!
Louise