How strong is DO or MAKE

When offering corrections to my students for odd sounding structures, one of the most common errors that seems hardest to make go away is the use of DO or MAKE in the place of much better and STRONGER verbs.

There seems to be a tendency in Portuguese to use only DO/MAKE - Fazer - together with a noun instead of the verb. So we hear structures like;

• We need to make our registration on the site. (We need to register on the site)
• Doing this simplification. (Simplifying)
• I did a confusion. ( I confused the two)
• I will get my friend to do a recommendation of this product to his colleagues. (I will get my friend to recommend this product to his colleagues. )

While this may not seem to be such a serious problem, it becomes so because of the arbitrary use of DO or MAKE without any real sense of the difference in meaning between them.

So this post has two main objectives.

The first purpose is to try and define what these differences are, and the second purpose is to try and reinforce the concept of using stronger verbs in English.

So how do we understand the difference in meaning between these two words?

Basically, DO is used to refer to an action taking place.

DO as a Transitive verb ' Perform, effect, transact, bring about, finish.

DO as an Intransitive verb ' Act, manage, work, fare, serve, suffice, happen

• DO an exam
• DO homework
• DO (somebody) a favour
• DO exercises
• DO a course

Make is more related to constructing something.

MAKE as a Transitive verb « Construct, produce, create, establish.

MAKE as an Intransitive verb « Tend, contribute

• MAKE a mistake
• MAKE an appointment
• MAKE a phone call
• MAKE a list
• MAKE a noise

Inconsistencies can be found in the use of the two in specific expressions.

• DO Business
• MAKE a profit or loss.
• DO the dishes - where you wash and dry the dirty dishes.
• MAKE an offer
• DO research
• MAKE the bed - This means tidy the bed you have just slept in.

Because of the apparent duplicity in meaning when translated from the Portuguese - FAZER, there can only be confusion on both sides of the language table.

I believe these two verbs are very weak. English is known for it's vast vocabulary which includes verbs. There is a greater tendency for English speakers to be more specific in their language by choosing the more appropriate verbs rather than DO or MAKE.

In the case of a simple request like, Could you DO/MAKE a presentation for me?

What would you expect to do?

So let's make a list of possibilities

VERBS Prepare, Present, Give, Rehearse, Review, Revise, Research, Check, Outline, Write, Develop, Organize etc

The original question Could you ******* a presentation for me would be better asked using the specifics of any of the verbs in the previous list. The DO or MAKE request leaves the listener relying on context and best guesses to really understand what is required.

As an aid to more efficient communication it might be a good idea to get used to learning and using a greater variety of verbs.