Word choice · B2
Make, do, take, have: which verb goes with which noun
Make, do, take, have, give and pay carry almost no meaning of their own. Which one you use is fixed by the noun that follows: you make an effort, do research, take responsibility, have an effect, give a talk and pay attention. There is no rule; there is only the pairing, and getting it wrong is the most audible learner error in English.
Which word, and why
- make
creating or producing something, including abstract things
Used for effort, progress, decisions, mistakes, sense and difference.
make an effort · make progress · make sense · make a difference
- do
performing work or an activity
Used for research, business, damage, homework and your best.
do research · do business · do damage · do your best
- take
accepting or undergoing something
Used for responsibility, risks, part, place and a break.
take responsibility · take a risk · take place · take part
- have
possessing a state or an experience
Used for effects, impacts, arguments and difficulty.
have an effect · have an impact · have difficulty
- give
handing something over, including words
Used for talks, examples, permission and advice.
give a talk · give an example · give permission
- pay
a small fixed set of abstract objects
Used for attention, a visit, a compliment and respect.
pay attention · pay a visit · pay a compliment
Now use it
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The class has good progress this term.