Mastering English can be complex, but it becomes quite a challenge when it comes to certain seemingly simple, yet deeply complex verbs, such as “do” y “make“. These two words are used in many everyday expressions in English and, although in Spanish they would both translate as “hacer”, they have specific nuances in English that can cause confusion even to more experienced speakers.
That’s why today, in this article we’re going to talk about what the difference is between make and do.
Here we go!
What is the difference between“do” and“make“?
The distinction between“do” and“make” in English can be a grammatical minefield for many learners of the language.
Generally speaking, “do” is used when referring to non-specific actions or tasks, while “make“is reserved for the creation or realization of something concrete. However, this theoretical application always has some exceptions and, for this reason, in many English academies it is recommended to learn by heart when to use each of them, especially if you intend to learn to pass the English exam.
Examples of sentences with“make” or“do“
As mentioned above, we use “make” when we create or build something tangible.
She’s going to make a delicious cake for the party.
The artist is making a beautiful sculpture out of marble .
On the other hand, “do” is used when we refer to non-specific actions or tasks:
I need to do my homework before the deadline.
Can you do the dishes after dinner? (Can you do the dishes after dinner?)
In addition, we also use “make” to refer to the production or manufacture of something.
The company makes high-quality leather goods.
(The company makes high-quality leather goods.)
He makes a living by creating handmade jewelry .
And “do” when we talk about activities in general or more abstract tasks.
I like to do yoga in the morning.
Can you do me a favor and pick up my mail? (Can you do me a favor and pick up my mail?)
Confusing cases of “make” vs “do”.
One of the cases that creates the most confusion is the case of “make a decision” vs.
“do a decision”. If we said that “do” was used for more abstract terms, it makes sense to think that it should be used to talk about decisions.
Instead, the correct word is “make”:
I need some time to make a decision about the job offer.
As with decisions, errors in English are also made with “make”:
I made a mistake in the calculations, and I need to fix it .
And what about the effort?
Exactly the same thing!
“Make” is used to express the act of putting effort into something, while “do” doesn’t fit here:
She made a tremendous effort to learn a new language .
Because each case is so confusing, understanding the difference between “do” and “make” can be a challenge initially, but as you get used to using it, it will seem to make more sense and you will be able to integrate it easily into your daily speaking.
The key is practice and constant exposure to the language.
So, if you need more help integrating these concepts, contact us!
At our English school we offer classes at all levels and we can help you familiarize yourself with these confusing concepts in a simple way.
Would you like to learn English by watching TV series?
This is not only possible, but also recommended!
From our English academy, Fun Talk, we believe that learning can be fun and, therefore, in this article we are going to tell you about some of the best series you can watch to improve your English level. Are you ready for this?
Top 5 series to learn English
Derry Girls
Derry Girls is one of the best Netflix series to learn English due to the particularity of its accent.
This comedy follows the misadventures of a group of teenagers in the troubled Derry of the 1990s, that is, in the Ireland that was marked by the IRA.
Through comical situations and witty dialogue, the series provides an authentic insight into Irish accents and slang. In addition, the diversity of accents in the cast will help you get used to different ways of speaking English.
Fleabag
Fleabag offers a unique perspective on modern life in London.
The main character, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, gets involved in comical and sometimes complicated situations.
The series is eloquent and uses contemporary language that will familiarize you with everyday expressions and current English idioms.
3. Peaky Blinders
For those looking for a historical drama with a gangster twist, Peaky Blinders is the perfect choice.
The series set in the post-war era offers rich and complex dialogue.
The Birmingham accent and the interactions between the characters will immerse you in a more formal and traditional English that will help you become familiar with more formal expressions.
4. Sherlock
Sherlock brings the famous Sherlock Holmes story to contemporary London.
This series is a gem for mystery lovers and also an opportunity to improve your language skills.
The witty dialogue and precise expression of the main character, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, will help you expand your vocabulary and understanding of English.
5. Succession
Succession is a series that focuses on the Roy family and their media empire.
This dramatic series offers sharp dialogue, family intrigue and complicated business dealings. Exploring the family and business dynamics present in this fiction will allow you to improve your understanding of English in a contemporary and business context.
For this reason, it is one of the best HBO series to learn English with.
Tips for learning English by watching series
Use English subtitles: Use English subtitles to better follow the plot and understand the expressions used in the series.
Repeat as much as necessary: Don’t hesitate to re-watch episodes to consolidate your understanding and familiarize yourself with accents and idioms.
Practice actively: Try repeating phrases and expressions after watching each episode to improve your pronunciation and fluency.
You can use them in writings or in your daily conversations.
As you can see, learning and enjoying go hand in hand in this case and, by watching all these series, you will not only enjoy quality entertainment, but you will also improve your English skills in a natural and fun way. Don’t wait any longer!
Turn on the screen and enjoy your learning in a different way.
Learning English properly takes time, but mainly a lot of study, especially when it comes to verb tenses, as most learners struggle to differentiate between infinitives and gerunds. However, understanding when to use each verb form is essential for clear and effective communication.
That’s why, in this Fun Talk article we’re going to tell you when to put gerund or infinitive in English. Read on to find out!
Grammatical difference between English infinitives and gerunds
To understand when to use the infinitive or the gerund, it is crucial to know the grammatical difference between the two forms.
Fortunately, just as in Spanish, both verb tenses have specific characteristics that differentiate them at a glance and, in addition, their translation is usually different as well.
On the one hand, the infinitive is the base form of the verb and is easy to recognize because it is always preceded by“to,” as in“to eat” or“to study“.
In Spanish, this “to” would be the equivalent of the “-er” or “-ar” ending (to eat or to study).
On the other hand, the gerund is the form of the verb that ends in “-ingas in“eating” or“studying“, referring to the concrete action in which something is being done.
In Spanish, it would come to mean the same as “-ndo” (eating, studying).
Examples of gerund and infinitive in English
When to use the infinitive in English
Infinitives are commonly used to form complex verb tenses.
Therefore, they are often written after certain verbs such as“want,”“plan,” or“decide,” as well as after adjectives such as“happy” or“eager.”
Here are some examples:
I want to eat
She is happy to help.
In addition, infinitives are also used after certain nouns and expressions, such as“a plan to,““an opportunity to,” or“the ability to.”
For example:
He has a plan to travel.
She has the ability to solve problems.
When to use gerunds in English
On the other hand, gerunds are used after verbs that imply ongoing actions, such as ” enjoy,” ” love,” or ” prefer:
I enjoy reading
They prefer swimming.
But, in addition, they can also function as subjects of a sentence or as a complement, as in the following cases :
Swimming is a great exercise.
I am good at cooking.
When to use the infinitive or gerund in English
As you can imagine, choosing when to use one verb tense or the other depends entirely on the context and the sentence you want to formulate. Here we have given you some basic guidelines on when to use the infinitive or gerund, but it should be noted that in a language like English there are always exceptions.
Therefore, fully understanding when to use each verb form can be a challenge. If you need help memorizing verb tenses and want to deepen your knowledge of the language, we invite you to join our English classes. At our English school, we believe that teaching can be fun, so we use dynamic and stimulating learning formulas for all students.
It doesn’t matter what level or age you are!
At Fun Talk there will be a place for you and we will help you to express yourself correctly in all verb tenses.
Are you looking for useful English words for your next trip abroad or just want to know some everyday phrases to help you survive in an English-speaking country?
Whatever it is, you’re in luck!
In this Fun Talk article we are going to give you some of the most useful everyday English words and phrases. Are you ready?
Useful English words
Before we stop to mention everyday English phrases, it is necessary that you know the meaning of the 5 W’s, since they will help you to formulate any question in English (something extremely useful if you are lost in a remote village in England).
What are the 5 W’s?
Where
What (what)
When (when)
Who (who)
Why (why)
With these five magic words, you will be able to construct all the phrases you need to orient yourself.
However, just in case that’s not enough, here are some of the most commonly used English expressions.
Everyday phrases in English
Useful English phrases for greetings
Good morningGood morning!
Good afternoon! (Good afternoon!)
Nice to meet you! (Nice to meet you!)
Useful English phrases in restaurants
Can I see the menu, please? (May I see the menu, please?)
I would like to order… (I would like to order…)
Is this dish spicy? (Is this dish spicy?) – You’ll be surprised how much spicy food you’ll find in English-speaking countries.
Can you bring me the bill, please? (Can you bring the bill, please?)
Useful English phrases in stores
How much does this cost? (How much does this cost?)
Do you have it in my size? (Do you have it in my size?)
I’m just browsing, thank you. (I’m just browsing, thank you.)
Useful English phrases to ask for directions
Excuse me, where is….
(Excuse me, where is ….).
For example:
Excuse me, where is the nearest bus stop?
(Excuse me, where is the nearest bus stop?)
Can you tell me how to go/get….(Can you tell me how to go/get…) Such as:
Can you tell me how to get to the museum?
(Can you tell me how to get to the museum?)
Most used English expressions
Please (Please)
Thank you! (Thank you!)
You’re welcome! (You are welcome)
Excuse me (Excuse me / Pardon me)
I’m sorry (I’m sorry)
Goodbye! (Goodbye!)
See you later! (See you later!)
See you soon! (See you soon!)
I don’t understand. (I don’t understand) – This phrase will be especially useful if your level of English is not yet very good.
You can also learn to say I’m learning english , so that native speakers can make themselves better understood or speak more slowly.
Can you help me, please? (Can you help me, please?)
Where is the bathroom? (Where is the bathroom?)
How to learn everyday phrases in English
If you want to learn any of these words, phrases or expressions in English, the best thing to do is to write them all down in a notebook and try to start using them as soon as possible.
To do this, we recommend you memorize two every day and play at finding them in all the series and movies you watch in English.
You’ll be surprised how many of them appear!
English, like all languages and skills, improves with practice.
That is, the more hours you dedicate to studying the language and the more you manage to implement it in your daily routine, the better level you will have.
If you are looking for habits to improve your Englishon a daily basis that you can adopt easily and simply, you’ve come to the right place!
In this Fun Talk article we are going to give you the keys to increase your English level with little effort.
Are you ready to learn? Let’s go!
5 habits to speak better English
Study every day
Instead of dedicating a whole afternoon to studying English, try to divide that time between the rest of the week and dedicate some of your time, even if it is only 10 minutes, to assimilate the concepts you have learned. You can do grammar exercises, listening, reading or simply review what you have learned in your English classes.
Apply English to something you like
Do you play a lot of video games?
Are you passionate about reading?
Do you always watch a chapter before going to bed?
Do you go to the gym every day?
No matter what your hobby is!
Use it to improve your English by applying the language to everything you do, changing the language on your mobile devices or trying to think in English while doing the task you want to accomplish. If you go to the gym, you probably already know what a hip thrust is, but now it’s your turn to translate it.
Learn more in English
Most websites offer an English and a Spanish version, change it to read in English!
Think that, if you don’t understand something, in just one click you can see the translation.
Look for news, articles and blogs that interest you and start implementing this habit to improve your English in your daily life!
Use Instagram best friend stories
One of the most recommended resources to improve your English is to record and listen to yourself, since it is easier to recognize your mistakes.
Take advantage of social networks to do this and make your learning fun! You can record TikToks or, if you’re more embarrassed, use Instagram best friend story videos to communicate with your close circle in English.
Write a diary
One of the best English habits you can do on a daily basis to improve your level is to write a journal.
This will force you to unconsciously apply everything you have learned, it will help you think in English and it will also be beneficial on a personal level, as it will be a moment of disconnection.
It will also be a written test of your progress with the language.
Tips for creating habits in English
Keep in mind all the habits to improve your English that we have discussed and implement them in your daily routine.
To achieve this, you can follow these tips:
Plan your learning.
Set measurable objectives.
Don’t be afraid to worry.
Share your progress with colleagues or teachers.
Do not give up, even if it seems to you that you are not moving forward.
Remember that it is impossible to learn to speak a language in one day and that even the most native speakers continue to learn expressions of their native language from time to time, so be patient.
And, if you need to increase your English classes to improve your English level, contact us! Fun Talk will be happy to help you turn your learning into a fun experience.
In English there are about 200 irregular verbs, that is, hundreds of different and unique verb tenses that must be learned by heart.
For this reason, they are the grammatical part of the language that is most difficult for students to learn, regardless of their level.
Although their use is not really complicated, to learn them you have to know how to recognize them.
Therefore, in this Fun Talk article we are going to tell you when a verb is irregular and how you can learn irregular verbs in English in an easy and simple way.
Are you ready to improve your English level? Let’s get started!
What is an irregular verb in English?
An irregular verb in English is one that does not follow the conventional rules of conjugation.
While regular verbs follow specific patterns for forming the past tense and past participle, irregular verbs have unique forms that must be memorized.
These forms do not follow any fixed rules and must be learned individually.
When is a verb irregular in English?
A verb is considered irregular in English when its verb forms do not follow the regular “-ed” endings in the past simple and past participle.
For example, the regular verb “play” has the forms “played” in the simple past and “played” in the past participle.
However, the irregular verb “go” has the forms “went” in the simple past and “gone” in the past participle, which do not follow the regular pattern.
Irregularity in verbs can manifest itself in various ways, such as changes in the vowel of the verb stem, modifications in the word structure, or even a completely different form for the past and past participle.
Tricks to learn irregular verbs in English
Learning irregular verbs in English can be a challenge, but there are a few tricks that can make the process easier:
Systematic memorization: An effective way to learn irregular verbs is to group them by similarities and memorize them in groups.
This helps identify patterns and facilitates retention of verb forms.
Use of mnemonics: Creating sentences or stories involving irregular verbs can help remember verb forms in an easier and more fun way.
Associating the verbs with situations or mental images can also be helpful.
Constant practice: Regular practice is key to consolidating knowledge of irregular verbs.
Performing exercises, writing sentences and conversing in English are effective ways to practice the use of these verbs in real contexts.
Educational apps and resources: There are numerous educational apps and websites that offer interactive games and exercises to practice irregular verbs.
Using these resources can make learning more dynamic and engaging.
In short, an irregular verb in English is one that does not follow the regular conjugation rules and has unique verb forms that must be learned individually.
Identifying irregular verbs and practicing their use consistently are fundamental steps to mastering them.
Fortunately, there are many techniques that can help you learn irregular verbs in English, so try some of the ones we have discussed and be patient!
Remember that learning a language is a long journey and, if you need additional help, you can always ask for English classes at our center .Contact us and we will help you and we will help you learn irregular verbs in English!
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One of the cases that creates the most confusion is the case of “make a decision” vs.
To understand when to use the infinitive or the gerund, it is crucial to know the grammatical difference between the two forms.
Before we stop to mention everyday English phrases, it is necessary that you know the meaning of the 5 W’s, since they will help you to formulate any question in English (something extremely useful if you are lost in a remote village in England).
Instead of dedicating a whole afternoon to studying English, try to divide that time between the rest of the week and dedicate some of your time, even if it is only 10 minutes, to assimilate the concepts you have learned. You can do grammar exercises, listening, reading or simply review what you have learned in your 
Learning irregular verbs in English can be a challenge, but there are a few tricks that can make the process easier: