German often uses machen where English uses either do or make.
And there’s no simple rule that works every time.
We usually say:
Do:
- do your homework
- do business
- do someone a favour
Make:
- make a decision
- make a mistake
- make progress
💡 Quick tip:
Learn the words together rather than trying to translate machen.
And here’s a useful business example:
„You did a great job on the presentation.“
Not:
„You made a great job on the presentation.“
