GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

11 BE, HAVE AND DO PAGE 112
3 The ordinary verb do has a number of uses.
a
b
c
We use do for an action when we do not say what the action is. This may be
because we do not know or do not want to say.
What are you doing? ~ I'm working out this sum.
You can do lots of exciting things at Adventure World!
Guess what we did yesterday.
We also use do to mean 'carry out', 'work at', 'study' or 'complete'.
Have you done your exercises?
They're doing some repairs to the roof.
We did the job in an hour.
In informal English we can use do instead of another verb when we are talking
about doing a job.
The roof was damaged. They're doing it now. (= repairing)
I've done the shoes. (= cleaned)
The restaurant does Sunday lunches. (= serves)
d We can also use do with a gerund. • 138(2)
Someone ought to do the washing.
89 Do and make
1 Do and make are both action verbs. (For do, • 88.) Make often means 'produce' or
'create'.
Who made this table? We make a small profit.
They've made a new James Bond film. I was just making some tea.
Here are some expressions with do and make.
do your best (= try hard), do business (with someone), do a course, do someone a
favour, do good (= help others), do harm, do homework/housework, do a test/an
exam, do well (= be successful)
make arrangements, make a (phone) call, make an effort, make an excuse, make a
fuss, make love, make a mistake, make a mess, make money, make a noise, make
progress, make a speech, make trouble
For make as an empty verb in expressions like make a suggestion, • 87.
NOTE
For These players will make a good team, •9(1).
For The story really made me laugh, • 127(3a).
2 Here are some more uses of do.
What does Jason do? (= What's Jason's job?)
How are you doing? (= getting on)
I don't want much for lunch. A sandwich will do. (= will be all right)
I could do with a coffee. (= want)
We shall probably have to do without a holiday. (= not have)
The boss wants to see you. It's something to do with the new computer.
(= connected with).