Confusable verbsEnglish level A2
Say / Tell & Do / Make
Four verbs learners mix up daily: say and tell for speaking, do and make for actions and results.
Rule
Say stands alone or takes to: say (to me). Tell needs a person: tell me. Do is about activities and work; make is about creating or producing something.
Word list
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| say something (to sb) | the words matter | He said hello. / He said it to everyone. |
| tell somebody something | a listener is named | Tell me the truth. / She told us a story. |
| do | activity, work, duty | do homework · do the shopping · do your best |
| make | create, produce, a result | make dinner · make a mistake · make a decision |
Compare
| say / do | tell / make |
|---|---|
| She said (to me) that she was tired. | She told me that she was tired. |
| do homework, the dishes, sport, your best | make a cake, a mistake, a decision, money, friends |
Common mistakes
Wrong: She said me the truth.Correct: She told me the truth.Wrong: I must make my homework.Correct: I must do my homework.
Notes
- Fixed pairs are learned, not deduced - when in doubt, check the word list above
Practice
She missing word me a funny story.
I have to missing word my homework.
Don't be afraid to missing word a mistake.