Why do instead of make?

[Ben]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #90 "Using Make and Do (1)", question 3

His teacher begged him to ......... more of an effort in class.

(a) make
(b) do
(c) made
(d) did

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #90 "Using Make and Do (1)", answer 3

His teacher begged him to make more of an effort in class.

Correct answer: (a) make

Your answer was: incorrect
His teacher begged him to do more of an effort in class.
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why do instead of make

ben

[Conchita]

'Do' is wrong here. The correct expression is make an effort.

[Alan]

Hi,

These two verbs are a troublesome pair and are used idiomatically in many expressions. There's no logic in it -it's just idiomatic.

If you like, have a look at a piece I've written for the site:

English Grammar Lesson: Verb Make versus Do
http://www.english-test.net/lessons/5/index.html

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Colour Idioms

[gypsy1900]

make is used when something is created that did not exist E.G. MAKE A PHONE CALL, MAKE DINNER, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. Do is used for doing work E.G. DO YOUR JOB, DO EXERCISES, DO HOMEWORK.
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teachers open the doors, but the students must enter them by themselves

[Yankee]

.
Here are some more DO/MAKE examples (I'm sure many or most of them are also in Alan's article):

- do a favor
- do damage
- do the talking
- do anything you like
- do your best
- make the best of a situation
- make a profit
- make an offer
- make progress
- make a complaint
- make hay while the sun shines
- make a deal
- do a deal

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English