Vocabulary 

:
Collocations with hot verbs: Do and Make.

•A collocation is a group of words that often go together. For example, we can say ‘take a look’, but we
cannot say ‘make a look’.
•Unfortunately, there are no rules that say how to create collocations. Hence, some collocations need to
be memorized.
•Hot verbs are ‘do’ and ‘make’. Some collocations are made with ‘make’ (for example, we say ‘make noise’
and not ‘do noise’), and other collocations are made with ‘do’ (for example, we say ‘do a job’ and not
‘make a job’).

•Here are the most used collocations with ‘do’ and ‘make’.

Do Make

the housework a mess

a test a mistake

a job the beds

a favour noise

the shopping a wish

harm a promise

your hair a speech

your best peace

your nails a complaint

work a profit

damage an attempt

a service a reservation

something/anything/nothing an offer

wrong (the wrong thing) an excuse

well an impression

business a suggestion

a dance a choice

a drawing trouble

the gardening certain

Practice:
Fill in each blank with a collocation from the table above.

1-The kids have to learn ………………..……….. their …………………………. Before they go to school.
2-The little kid …………………………………………… before blowing off the birthday candles.
3-We have practically run out of everything in the kitchen. I have to ………………………………….. this afternoon.
4-Will you …………………………… me ……………………………, please? Take this letter to the post office.
5-I’ve got to ………………………………………… for my boss’s farewell party.
6-Stop fighting you two - shake hands and ……………………………………….!
7-Computer addiction can ………………………………………. to your eyes.