do to do something – used in the following phrases: do your work/homework etcIt usually takes me a couple of hours to do my homework.
| do the shopping/cooking/washing etcShe’s gone to the supermarket to do the shopping.
| do a test/experiment/some researchThe doctor did some tests.
Fraser spent some time in Egypt doing some archaeological research.
Scientists are doing research on two types of vaccine.
| do a courseHave you decided which course you want to do at university?
make to do something – used in the following phrases: make a speechThe prince made a short speech.
| make a comment/suggestion/jokeCan I make a suggestion?
| make a decisionThe committee will meet to make their final decision.
| make a mistakeI think someone has made a mistake.
give to do something – used in the following phrases: give a talk/speech/lectureThey’ve asked him to give a talk.
| give a performanceThe band gave a brilliant performance.
take to do something – used in the following phrases: take a test/examKate’s taking her driving test tomorrow.
| take a bath/showerI think I’ll go and take a shower.
| take a walkNormally, he took a walk in the evenings.
commit to do something that is a crime, especially a serious crime: commit a crimeThe crime was committed in the early hours of the morning.
| commit a robbery/murder etcDixon later admitted committing the robbery.
carry out something to do something – used in the following phrases: carry out your workThe violence is making it difficult for firefighters to carry out their work.
| carry out a task/dutyHe still managed to carry out his duties.
| carry out a survey/test/some researchThe hospital carries out research into skin diseases.
| carry out an operationThe operation was carried out at a hospital in Paris.
| carry out a threat/promiseThey didn’t carry out their threat to kill the hostages.
| carry out somebody’s orders/instructions/wishesI’m sure I can rely on you to carry out my instructions.
perform to do something. Perform is more formal than carry out, and is used in the following phrases: perform a task/dutyThe job mostly involves performing administrative tasks.
| perform an operationA team of surgeons performed the operation.
conduct to do something – used in the following phrases: conduct a survey/study/experimentThey conducted a survey of approximately 2,000 people living in the area.
| conduct an inquiry/investigationThe police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire.
| conduct an interviewKnowing how to conduct a successful interview is a skill.
| conduct a campaignPeople were unimpressed by the way in which the election campaign was conducted.
go about something to do your work or the things that you usually do, especially when something serious has happened: go about your work/businessThe next day she went about her business as if nothing had happened.
get on with something spoken especially British EnglishBrE to start doing something that you should have started already or to continue doing something that you stopped doing for a short timeI need to get on with my homework.
be up to something spoken to be doing something that you think is probably bad, although you do not know exactly what it isI’m sure they’re up to something.
What’s Jake up to? He’s been upstairs in his room all day.