CCSP English Minute 17

CCSP English Minute

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Aula desta segunda-feira, 12 de maio

“TO DO” OR “TO MAKE”?

Portuguese has two forms of the English verb “to be”: "ser" and "estar". This causes a lot of confusion for us English speakers in Brazil. So, as revenge, we have created two forms of the Portuguese verb "fazer": “to do” and “to make”.

What is the difference between these two verbs?

In general, the verb “to make” means “to create”, “to build”, or “to construct”. You can use this verb to describe an activity that results in something you can see or touch. For example, you “make a cake,” “make a mess,” and “make somebody cry.”

In general, the verb “to do” also describes an activity, but one that doesn’t result in something you can see or touch. For example, you “do the dishes,” “do a job,” and “do your best”. In each of these cases, no physical object resulted from the action.

Notice that I said “in general” when presenting these rules. There are many exceptions!

Consider the sentence “I made a decision.” Am I creating something that can be seen and touched? No. So, why shouldn’t I say “I did a decision”?

Or what about the sentence “She made the bed”? Does that mean she is building a bed? No. She is simply tidying up the sheets and blankets.

To understand the difference between “to do” and “to make”, you must understand the general rules first. After that, you can practice the most common exceptions by including them in your conversations until they feel natural.

Confira aula anterior aqui.

Conheça o site de Jason Bermingham: www.vozemingles.com