Do vs Make

When 'do' or 'make' are used as main verbs it can be confusing to ESL learners. The verb 'make' goes with some words and the verb 'do' with other words.

Do

We use the verb 'do' when someone performs an action, activity or task.

do a crossword
do the ironing
do the laundry
do the washing
do the washing up

'Do' is often used when referring to work of any kind.

do your work
do homework
do housework
do your job

!Note - these activities do not usually produce a physical object.
'Do' for General Ideas
Use the verb 'do' when speaking about things in general. In other words, to describe an action without saying exactly what the action is. This form is often used with the words 'something, nothing, anything, everything, etc.'
I'm not doing anything today.
He does everything for his mother.
She's doing nothing.
Important Expressions with 'Do'There are a number of standard expressions that take the verb 'do'. The best solution is to try to learn them.
do badly
do business
do the dishes
do a favour
do good
do harm
do time - (to go to prison)
do well
do your best
do your hair
do your nails
do your worst 

Make

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'Used to' or 'use to' vs would

I was asked on Pal Talk recently how to use used to and would.
If we say something used to happen we are talking about repeated events and actions in the past, usually things that happened a long time ago and are now finished.
To express this we can use either used to or would.

• When I was young I used to play with my dolls. = When I was young I would play with my dolls.

Of course I no longer play with dolls!

• We used to go out a lot in the summer.

Implies that we no longer go out much.

If you want to talk about repeated states or habits in the past, you must use used to, you cannot use would : :

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The Passive Voice

The passive voice is used when the subject of a sentence is the person or thing affected by the action of the sentence.

The passive voice may use any tense of the verb to be:-

to be
is / are / am (present simple) 


was / were (past simple) 


is being / are being /am being (present continuous) 

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The Active Voice

We say things in the active voice when we want to show who or what has done something.
In the active voice the agent (the person or thing that does something) is the subject of the sentence.

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USED TO + infintive

USED TO + infintive

(I used to have a pony tail, I used to play rugby. Was true, but not true now)

BE/GET USED TO + _____ING

(I can't get used to driving on the left, She wasn't used to his strange habits. Become familiar with)

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Differences between Like and As

Like :

We use it when the second term of the comparison is a noun, a gerund or a pronoun.

Dave looks like his father. - Don't act like me !

Tolearnenglish is like having your own private tutor.

Like can be modified with adverbs , such as :
just, more, very much, not at all... :
Just like you, Jane wanted to be a doctor.

AS :
We use it when the second term of the comparison is a verb, a clause or a preposition.

Don't do as I do !
It started raining, as I said it would.
Prices are very high, as in the 1990s. (as they were)

As can be used before a noun:

She works as a nurse.

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The Difference between a few/few and a little/little

First: 
FEW vs. LITTLE
Few is used with countable nouns (nouns which can be counted), such as coin(s), sweet(s), and animal(s).

Little is used with uncountable nouns (nouns that cannot be counted), such as milk, time, and money.

Second:
FEW vs. A FEW
Few emphasises the lack of something.

There are few sweets left in the jar.
(We should be careful not to eat them too quickly because they are almost gone.)

A few emphasises that something still remains.

We have a few minutes left in class. Do you have any questions? 
(We still have time so we should use it.)

LITTLE vs. A LITTLE
Little emphasises the lack of something.

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Finite and Non-finite Verbs

Finite Verbs

Finite Verbs are those verbs that have a definite relation with the subject or noun. These verbs are usually the main verb of a clause or sentence and can be changed according to the noun. They are used only in present and past tense. They can be indicative of passive or active voice and also of number (singular or plural).

She walks home. - Here we see that the finite verb is walks and the pronoun is 'she'. 

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Much or Many?

We use use much and many in questions and negative sentences. They both show an amount of something.

Use 'Much' with uncountable nouns
We use much with singular nouns.Question: "How much petrol is in the car?"
Negative clause: "We don't have much time left."
Use 'Many' with countable nouns

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Be and Auxiliary Verbs

Simple Questions are questions that can be answered with Yes or No.

For example:

Are you happy?

The form of this question is: be + subject + adjective

The adjective can be changed to different words but the be + subject stays the same:

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