|
Do
or Make
Most
speakers of Latin languages have difficulty with this since there exists
only one word in their language. In general, do means perform
whereas make means create. Unfortunately, there are many
idioms using these two verbs. They must be learned by heart, because they
are not always logical.
Idioms
with do
do
an about-face, do a dance, do an experiment, do a favour, do a good deed,
do a job, do away with, do business, do damage, do good, do homework,
do in, do maintenance, do one's best, do one's duty, do over, do research,
do right, do the dishes, do the groceries, do the rounds, do the shopping,
do the work, do time (in jail), do without, do wrong
Idioms
with make
make
an agreement, make an appointment, make arrangements, make one's bed,
make breakfast, make certain, make change, make a choice, make clear,
make a complaint, make a confession, make a contribution, make a deal,
make a decision, make a difference,* make an effort, make friends, make
fun of, make a fuss, make an impression, make an investment, make a killing,
make a living, make love, make lunch, make a mess, make a mistake, make
money, make noise, make a phone call, make plans, make progress, make
a promise, make up one's mind, make a remark, make a reservation, make
a sale, make sense, make a sound, make a speech, make a suggestion, make
supper, make sure, make time, make a will, make war
With
an object, make + a base verb means to force
I
made him sign the document means
Je l'ai forcé à signer le document and
not Je l'ai fait signer le document. For
this use, we say I got him to sign the document.
*
Don't confuse with tell the difference
Translating
Faire
In
French, faire is the most common verb. It is used in hundreds of
expressions. Be careful when translating idioms from French to English.
Some expressions in French use faire, whereas in English, we say
it differently:
| faire
6 pieds |
|
to
be 6 feet tall |
| faire
son âge |
|
to
look one's age |
| faire
attention |
|
to
be careful |
| faire
de la compétition en... |
|
to
compete in ... |
| faire
la cuisine |
|
to
cook |
| faire
une dépression |
|
to
have a nervous breakdown |
| faire
du droit |
|
to
practice law |
| faire
drôle, bizarre |
|
to
be funny, strange |
| faire
un enfant |
|
to
conceive, to have a baby |
| faire
l'épicerie |
|
to
do the groceries |
| faire
ses études |
|
to
study |
| faire
de l'exercice |
|
to
exercise |
| faire
de la fièvre |
|
to
run a temperature |
| Ça
fait longtemps |
|
It
has been a long time |
| faire
de la médecine |
|
to
practice medicine |
| faire
un pique-nique |
|
to
have a picnic |
| faire
pitié |
|
to
be pitiful |
| faire
une promenade |
|
to
go for a walk |
| faire
son "smatte" |
|
to
be a "smart-alec" |
| faire
soleil (ou du vent, etc.) |
|
to
be sunny (cloudy, windy, etc.) |
| faire
la sourde oreille |
|
to
not listen |
| faire
du théâtre |
|
to
act |
| faire
le tour |
|
to
go around |
| faire
un voyage |
|
to
travel, take a trip |
| |
|
|
|
