1. 1. I don’t like that solution.

I think it might ____ more harm than good.

  make

  do
2. 2. I’m sorry, but he said that he wouldn’t like to ____ a contribution. He’s
already contributed to several charities this year.

  make

  do
3. 3. Jacky said she’ll meet us at the restaurant. She has to ____ a phone call.

  make

  do
4. 4. You should always ____ some research about your prospective employer
before going on a job interview.

  make

  do
5. 5. I ____ my mother a promise that I would graduate college on time.

  made

  did
6. 6. I’m not ____ a fortune, but I’m content with my salary.

  making

  doing
7. 7. Let’s talk it over. I want to be sure we are  ____ the right thing.

  making
   doing
8. 8. Many small businesses take months or even years to ____ a profit.

  make

  do
9. 9. The newspaper ____ a mistake in one of yesterday’s articles. They printed a
retraction today.

  made

  did
10. 10. Both of them have the last name Ewing, but I didn’t ____
the connection that they might be related.

  make

  do
11. 11. In his early twenties, Sidney had to work two jobs to _____ ends meet.

  make

  do
12. 12. I’ll ____ my best to pick a time that is convenient for everyone.

  make

  do
13. 13. Many people criticized the president for not ____ anything about the crisis.

  making

  doing
14. 14. The scandal ____ damage to both his reputation and his personal life.
   made

  did
15. 15. You won’t even know I’m here. I won’t ____ a sound.

  make

  do
16. 16. With a demanding job and two kids, it’s hard to ____ time for myself.

  make

  do
17. 17. Have you ____ any plans for the upcoming three-day weekend?

  made

  done
18. 18. If you want to ____ business in this country, I suggest you learn about the
culture.

  make

  do
19. 19. Could we ____ something about the temperature in this room? It’s freezing.

  make

  do
20. 20. I think the mayor ____ a good point, but I’m not totally sold on his proposal.

  makes

  does
21. 21. Steve ____ an attempt to clarify the confusion.
   made

  did
22. 22. I typically try to ____ my shopping during the week so that I can have my
weekends free.

  make

  do
23. 23. We celebrated a job well ____ by opening a bottle of champagne.

  made

  done
24. 24. Could you ____ me a favor and take these documents to Monica?

  make

  do
25. 25. Congress plans to pass a law to ____ sure this never happens again.

  make

  do
26. 26. Gary voted this morning. He said it felt good to ____ his civic duty.

  make

  do
27. 27. Our interns are trying to ____ the most of their time here.

  make

  do
28. 28. We should have gone out instead of having the party here. We ____ a
complete mess.
   made

  did
29. 29. He didn’t ____ any excuses. He simply apologized for what happened.

  make

  do
30. 30. Great team effort, guys! Everyone ____ their share.

  made

  did
31. 31. We have a strict policy against that. I don’t know that they’ll ____
an exception.

  make

  do
32. 32. Do you think it ____ sense for us to outsource this?

  makes

  does
33. 33. We wish we didn’t have to ____ this choice.

  make

  do
34. 34. Tanya took a job as a part-time contractor for another company. She’s not
____ as much money as she was here, but she says she’s happy.

  making

  doing
35. 35. My car is ____ a strange noise. I’m going to take it to the mechanic.
  making

  doing
MAKE DO

make a choice a job well done

make a comparison do a crime

make a complaint do an experiment

make a connection do business

make a contribution do damage

do good/bad
make a decision
do harm
make a demand
do research
make a difference
do right/wrong
make a fortune
do someone a favor
make a living
do something/anything
make a mess
do well
make a mistake
do your best
make a noise/sound
do your duty
make a point
do your part
make a profit
do your share
make a promise

make a request

make a suggestion

make a telephone call

make an appointment

make an attempt

make an effort

make an exception
MAKE DO

make an excuse

make an offer

make changes

make clear

make ends meet

make money

make payments

make plans

make progress

make the best of something

make the most of something

make time

make sense

make sure
1. 1. I don’t like that solution. I think it might ____ more harm than good.

  make

  do

Incorrect 

2. 2. I’m sorry, but he said that he wouldn’t like to ____ a contribution. He’s
already contributed to several charities this year.

  make

  do

Incorrect 

3. 3. Jacky said she’ll meet us at the restaurant. She has to ____ a phone call.

  make

  do

Correct 

4. 4. You should always ____ some research about your prospective employer

before going on a job interview.

  make

  do

Correct 

5. 5. I ____ my mother a promise that I would graduate college on time.

   made

  did

Correct 

6. 6. I’m not ____ a fortune, but I’m content with my salary.

  making

  doing

Correct 

7. 7. Let’s talk it over. I want to be sure we are  ____ the right thing.

  making

  doing

Correct 

8. 8. Many small businesses take months or even years to ____ a profit.

  make

  do

Correct 

9. 9. The newspaper ____ a mistake in one of yesterday’s articles. They printed a

retraction today.

  made

  did
 Correct 

10. 10. Both of them have the last name Ewing, but I didn’t ____
the connection that they might be related.

  make

  do

Correct 

11. 11. In his early twenties, Sidney had to work two jobs to _____ ends meet.

  make

  do

Correct 

12. 12. I’ll ____ my best to pick a time that is convenient for everyone.

  make

  do

Correct 

13. 13. Many people criticized the president for not ____ anything about the crisis.

  making

  doing

Correct 

14. 14. The scandal ____ damage to both his reputation and his personal life.
   made

  did

Correct 

15. 15. You won’t even know I’m here. I won’t ____ a sound.

  make

  do

Correct 

16. 16. With a demanding job and two kids, it’s hard to ____ time for myself.

  make

  do

Correct 

17. 17. Have you ____ any plans for the upcoming three-day weekend?

  made

  done

Correct 

18. 18. If you want to ____ business in this country, I suggest you learn about the
culture.

  make

  do
 Correct 

19. 19. Could we ____ something about the temperature in this room? It’s freezing.

  make

  do

Correct 

20. 20. I think the mayor ____ a good point, but I’m not totally sold on his proposal.

  makes

  does

Correct 

21. 21. Steve ____ an attempt to clarify the confusion.

  made

  did

Incorrect 

22. 22. I typically try to ____ my shopping during the week so that I can have my
weekends free.

  make

  do

Correct 

23. 23. We celebrated a job well ____ by opening a bottle of champagne.

   made

  done

Correct 

24. 24. Could you ____ me a favor and take these documents to Monica?

  make

  do

Correct 

25. 25. Congress plans to pass a law to ____ sure this never happens again.

  make

  do

Correct 

26. 26. Gary voted this morning. He said it felt good to ____ his civic duty.

  make

  do

Correct 

27. 27. Our interns are trying to ____ the most of their time here.

  make

  do
 Correct 

28. 28. We should have gone out instead of having the party here. We ____ a
complete mess.

  made

  did

Correct 

29. 29. He didn’t ____ any excuses. He simply apologized for what happened.

  make

  do

Correct 

30. 30. Great team effort, guys! Everyone ____ their share.

  made

  did

Correct 

31. 31. We have a strict policy against that. I don’t know that they’ll ____
an exception.

  make

  do

Correct 

32. 32. Do you think it ____ sense for us to outsource this?

   makes

  does

Correct 

33. 33. We wish we didn’t have to ____ this choice.

  make

  do

Correct 

34. 34. Tanya took a job as a part-time contractor for another company. She’s not
____ as much money as she was here, but she says she’s happy.

  making

  doing

Correct 

35. 35. My car is ____ a strange noise. I’m going to take it to the mechanic.

  making

  doing

Correct 
Conversation Questions
Discuss the following in groups.  Be sure to use the correct “make” and “do”
collocations.

1. Have you ever tried to help someone at work but ended up doing more harm than
good? What happened? Tell your group about it.

2. Tell your group about a difficult choice you had to make. What decision did you
end up making? Why did you make that choice?

3. What’s the biggest professional mistake you’ve ever made? What were the
consequences of making this mistake?

4. Tell your group about a time you did your best but it wasn’t good enough.

5. Did you have to do a lot of group projects when you were in college? Did everyone
always do their part?

6. Have you ever done someone a really big favor? What was it? Did the person
appreciate it?

7. What are some things business professionals can do to make sure they are able to
make time for their loved ones?

8. Tell your group about a time you thought you did something well but other people
didn’t agree with you.

9.  Benjamin Franklin said “He that is good at making excuses is seldom good at
anything else.” Agree or disagree. Explain your position to your group.

10. Did you have to write a thesis when you were in college? If so, what did you do
your research on?

11. What changes have you made recently in your personal and professional life?
How have these changes affected your life?

12. Agree or disagree:  Everyone, regardless of their income, should make charitable
contributions.  Tell your group your opinion.

13. Is it harder to make ends meet now than it was 20 years ago? Explain.

14. What things are prohibited at work? Does management ever make exceptions?
Explain.