ESL Vocabulary Collocations Make vs Do Strong vs Powerful

What It Is

Collocations are fixed phrases where two or more words are used together to convey a specific meaning. This study guide focuses on the collocations make vs. do and strong vs. powerful. ESL learners often struggle with these collocations because they are not used in the same way in their native language.

Key Rules

• Make is used for creating something: I make a cake (create a cake).
• Make is used for achieving a goal: I will make it to the party (arrive at the party).
• Do is used for actions: I do my homework (complete homework).
• Do is used for tasks: I do the laundry (wash clothes).
• Make is used for physical actions: I make a sandwich (assemble a sandwich).
• Do is used for mental actions: I do my math homework (think about math problems).
• Make is used for creating something new: I make a new friend (create a new friendship).
• Do is used for repeating an action: I do the same thing every day (repeat an action daily).
• Make is used for achieving a goal with effort: I will make it to the top (strive to reach the top).
• Do is used for actions that require no effort: I do nothing today (not do anything).
• Strong describes physical power or ability: He is strong (has physical power).
• Powerful describes something that has a lot of influence or control: The president is powerful (has a lot of influence).
• Strong describes something that is not easily broken: The rope is strong (not easily broken).
• Powerful describes something that has a lot of energy: The engine is powerful (has a lot of energy).
• Strong describes a person's feelings: I am strong (have a lot of courage).
• Powerful describes a person's influence: The teacher is powerful (has a lot of influence).

Common ESL Errors

• Error: I do my homework every day. Why it happens: Interference from L1 (in some languages, "do" is used for all actions).
• Correction: I make my homework every day. (In English, "make" is used for creating something, like homework.)
• Error: The building is strong. Why it happens: Overgeneralization (thinking that "strong" is always used for physical power).
• Correction: The building is powerful. (In English, "powerful" is used for something that has a lot of influence or control.)
• Error: I am powerful. Why it happens: Interference from L1 (in some languages, "powerful" is used for physical power).
• Correction: I am strong. (In English, "strong" is used for physical power or ability.)

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank: She makes (go) to the store every day.
   Answer: She makes it to the store every day. (In English, "make" is used for achieving a goal.)
2. Fill in the blank: The new law is strong (influence) people's lives.
   Answer: The new law is powerful in influencing people's lives. (In English, "powerful" is used for something that has a lot of influence or control.)
3. Fill in the blank: He does (create) a new painting every week.
   Answer: He makes a new painting every week. (In English, "make" is used for creating something.)

Last-Minute Revision

⚠️ Make and do can be used interchangeably in some situations, but make is often used for creating something or achieving a goal.
⚠️ Strong and powerful can be used interchangeably in some situations, but strong is often used for physical power or ability, while powerful is used for something that has a lot of influence or control.
⚠️ Make is often used with the present continuous tense: I am making a cake.
⚠️ Do is often used with the present simple tense: I do my homework every day.
⚠️ Strong is often used with adjectives that describe physical power: strong, powerful, sturdy.
⚠️ Powerful is often used with adjectives that describe influence or control: powerful, influential, dominant.
⚠️ Make and do can be used in the passive voice: The cake was made (by someone) or The homework was done (by someone).
⚠️ Strong and powerful can be used in the passive voice: The building was made strong (by someone) or The law is powerful (influencing people's lives).