This
week we answer a question from Hamza.
He writes:
“What is the difference
between "make" and "do"?
How and when should I use them?”
-- Hamza
how and when should I use them?:
¿cómo y cuándo debería utilizarlas?
ANSWER:
Dear Hamza,
MAKE and DO are similar verbs in
English. There are some words that
go together with MAKE and others
that go together with DO. In other
words, there are fixed expressions
in English with both of these verbs,
and you just have to learn them. But
there are general rules you can
follow:
that go together with: que
van juntas, que integran un conjunto
(de palabras); fixed expressions:
expresiones o formas idiomáticas
fijas;
(1) Use MAKE for when you create or
produce something.
(2) Use DO for actions you must do,
like jobs or work, and for general
activities, especially activities
you repeat often.
for when you create or produce:
para cuando creas o produces; for
actions you must do: para
acciones que debes realizar;
activities you repeat often:
actividades que repites
frecuentemente;
Let’s look at some examples of each
verb ...
let's look at: veamos,
analicemos; of each verb: de
cada verbo;
MAKE
Here are examples of MAKE for things
we produce. These can be something
you can touch, like food and drinks.
for things we produce: para
las cosas que producimos;
something you can touch: algo
que puedes tocar; like food and
drinks: como comidas y bebidas;
I MADE a cake
for your birthday.
Hice (Preparé) un pastel para tu
cumpleaños.
Please MAKE some tea before you
leave.
Por favor prepara algo de té antes
de irte.
Sometimes you cannot see or touch
the thing that is created.
you cannot see or touch: no
puedes ver ni tocar; that is
created: que se crea;
Your dog is MAKING too much noise.
Tu perro está haciendo demasiado
ruido.
We are MAKING progress on our study.
Estamos avanzando en nuestro
estudio.
She MADE plans to go to a movie with
her sister.
Ella hizo planes para ir a un cine
con su hermana.
DO
Let’s look at
the use of DO for work or jobs. Here
are some other examples of using DO
to talk about work at home.
let's look at the use of:
veamos, analicemos el uso de; for
work or jobs: para tareas
domésticas o puestos de trabajo;
to talk about: para hablar de;
work at home: tareas domésticas;
I have to DO the planting every
fall.
Tengo que hacer la siembra cada
otoño.
Mom says, “No TV until you DO your
homework”.
Mamá dice: "No verás TV hasta que
hagas tus deberes (tareas)".
Another way to use DO is with words
like “something,” “anything” and “nothing.”
another way to use: otra
forma de utlizar (el verbo);
words like: palabras como;
I
did not DO anything yesterday.
No hice nada ayer.
Are you DOING something interesting
over the holiday?
¿Vas a hacer algo interesante
durante las vacaciones?
The police DID nothing to stop the
crimes.
La policía no hizo nada para detener
los delitos.
Next time you are trying to decide
between MAKE and DO, please keep
these rules in mind. The more you
listen to and read English, the
easier it will be to choose between
these verbs.
next time: la próxima vez
(que); trying to decide between:
tratando de decidirte entre; keep
these rules in mind: ten en
cuenta, recuerda; the more you
listen to: cuanto más (inglés)
escuches; the easier it will be:
más fácil te resultará; to choose
between: escoger entre.
I’m Jill Robbins.