Collocations do vs. make

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ESL forum > Message board > Collocations do vs. make

Collocations do vs. make

Natyk2010

Collocations do vs. make

Could you please tell me what is correct: make one �s bed or do one � bed? I found both variants! Thank you in advance!

8 Nov 2011

Lovely Lana

there �s a collocation "make the bed / make one �s bed", which means that you arrange your sheets and pillows in the morning so that your bed looks nice and tidy.
I don �t think "do the bed" is right in this case.

8 Nov 2011

crispoi

In general house chores we use do, but for bed you have to use make the bed.

9 Nov 2011

ldthemagicman

Dear Natyk2010,

In the UK, in the situation which you describe, we say: "To make one �s bed". We do not say: "To do one �s bed".

However, when we are referring to all the household jobs, we could say: "I will do the dishes, if you will do the beds, Peter can do the windows, and Maria can do the shopping", (for example).

This is the same as:"I will WASH the dishes, if you will MAKE the beds, Peter can CLEAN the windows, and Maria can GO shopping."

In "Practical English Usage", 2000, Michael Swan writes:

Note that we say make a bed, but we often talk about doing the bed(s) as part of housework. Compare

He �s old enough to make his own bed now.

I �ll start on the vegetables as soon as I �ve done the beds.

I hope that this helps.

Les

9 Nov 2011