Common Expressions with Do and Make

The following expressions are set collocations (combinations of words that frequently appear together) that
you need to learn:

Expressions
with DO
The following words are
normally used with Do:

a dance

a project

a drawing

a service

a fart

an assignment

a burp

a favor / favour

anything

a course

a job

badly

a crossword

a painting

business

chores

right (the right thing)

well

damage

something

work

everything

the gardening

wrong (the wrong

exercises

the housework

thing)

good

the ironing

harm

the dishes

laundry

the rest

nothing

the shopping

research

Expressions
with MAKE
The following words are
normally used with MAKE:

your best

your hair

your homework

your job

your nails

your work

the washing

a demand

a noise

a difference

a pass at someone

a discovery

a plan

a bet

a face

a point

a cake

a fool of yourself

a prediction

a call

a fortune

a profit

a change

a friend

a promise

a choice

a fuss

a reservation

a comment

a joke

a sandwich

a complaint

a line

a scene

a confession

a list

a sound

a connection

a living

a speech

a cup of coffee / tea

a loss

a statement

a date

a mess

a suggestion

a decision

a mistake

advances

alterations

arrangements

progress

an appointment

breakfast

money

an announcement

certain

room

an attempt

clear

sales

an effort

dinner

sense

an error

faces

someone rich

an escape

famous

someone smile

an exception

fun of someone

sure

an excuse

love

trouble

an impression

lunch

war

an observation

inquiries

your bed

an offer

peace

your mind up

amends

possible

your way

Indefinite Pronouns
An indefinite pronoun does not refer to any specific person, thing or amount. It is vague
and "not definite". Some typical indefinite pronouns are:

all, another, any, anybody/anyone, anything, each, everybody/everyone,

everything, few, many, nobody, none, one, several, some, somebody/someone

Note that many indefinite pronouns also function as other parts of speech. Look at
"another" in the following sentences:

s
i
n
g
u
l
a

pronoun

meaning

example

another

an additional or different
person or thing

That ice-cream was good. Can I

have another?

anybody/
anyone

no matter what person

Can anyone answer this question?

anything

no matter what thing

The doctor needs to know if you have

eaten anything in the last two
hours.

each

every one of two or more

people or things, seen
separately

Each has his own thoughts.

either

one or the other of two

people or things

Do you want tea or coffee? / I don't

mind. Either is good for me.

enough

as much or as many as
needed

Enough is enough.

everybody/
everyone

all people

We can start the meeting

because everybody has arrived.

everything

all things

They have no house or possessions.

They losteverything in the
earthquake.

less

a smaller amount

"Less is more" (Mies van der Rohe)

little

a small amount

Little is known about his early life.

much

a large amount

Much has happened since we met.

He has one job in the day and another at night. (pronoun)

I'd like another drink, please. (adjective)

Most indefinite pronouns are either singular or plural. However, some of them can be
singular in one context and plural in another. The most common indefinite pronouns are
listed below, with examples, as singular, plural or singular/plural.
Notice that a singular pronoun takes a singular verb AND that any personal pronoun
should also agree (in number and gender). Look at these examples:

Each of the players has a doctor.

I met two girls. One has given me her phone number.

Similarly, plural pronouns need plural agreement:

Many have expressed their views.

* Some people say that "none" should always take a singular verb, even when talking about
countable nouns (eg five friends). They argue that "none" means "no one", and "one" is obviously
singular. They say that "I invited five friends but none has come" is correct and "I invited five
friends but none have come" is incorrect. Historically and grammatically there is little to support
this view. "None" has been used for hundreds of years with both a singular and a plural verb,
according to the context and the emphasis required.
That's Not My Job!
This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination creates
a
meaning different from the original verb alone.
Example :
get = to obtain
I need to get a new battery for my camera.
get together = to meet
Why dont we all get together for lunch one day?
Transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs :
Some phrasal verbs are transitive. (A transitive verb always has an object.)
Example : I made up an excuse. ('Excuse' is the object of the verb.)
Some phrasal verbs are intransitive . (An intransitive verb does not have an object.)
Example : My car broke down.
Separable or inseparable phrasal verbs :
Some transitive phrasal verbs are separable. (The object is between the verb and the
preposition.)
Example : I looked the word up in the dictionary.
Some transitive phrasal verbs are inseparable. (The object is placed after the
preposition.)
Example : I will look into the matter as soon as possible.

Some transitive phrasal verbs can take an object in both places.

Example : I picked up the book.
I picked the book up.
However, if the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the
preposition.
Example : I picked it up.