In German, the English verb "do" is primarily expressed through two verbs: tun (to do) and machen (to make/do). Understanding when to use each verb is crucial for German learners, as they are not always interchangeable. While tun is more general and abstract, machen often implies creating, producing, or completing something specific.
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Definition: The verb "do" in German is expressed primarily through: -
tun [tuːn] - to do (general actions, abstract concepts) -
machen [ˈmaxən] - to make/do (specific actions, creating results)
In this lesson, we'll explore both verbs through 15 varied examples, demonstrating their usage in different contexts and positions within sentences. You'll learn when Germans prefer one over the other, and how these verbs change form depending on the subject and tense.
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German has two main verbs for "do": tun and machen -
Tun is used for general, abstract actions -
Machen is used for specific actions that create results -
Both verbs are irregular and must be memorized -
Context determines which verb is appropriate -
Word order affects verb placement in German sentences
Question: What does "do" mean in German? Answer: "Do" in German is primarily expressed through two verbs: "tun" (for general, abstract actions) and "machen" (for specific actions that create or produce results). The choice between them depends on context and what type of action is being described.
Course: German for English Speakers Level: Beginner to Intermediate Topic: German verbs "tun" and "machen" (English "do") Type: Language Learning Material Institution: Latinum Institute Format: Self-study Reading Lesson
15.1 Was what tust do du you heute today Abend evening?
15.2 Ich I mache do meine my Hausaufgaben homework jeden every Tag day
15.3 Die the Kinder children tun do nichts nothing außer except spielen play
15.4 Kannst can du you das that für for mich me machen do?
15.5 Er he hat has viel much zu to tun do im in-the Büro office
15.6 Wir we machen do immer always Sport sports am on-the Wochenende weekend
15.7 Das that tut does mir me sehr very leid sorry
15.8 Sie she macht does einen a großen big Fehler mistake
15.9 Gestern yesterday haben have wir we nichts nothing Besonderes special getan done
15.10 Mein my Bruder brother macht does gerade just sein his Bett bed
15.11 Warum why tust do du you so so, als as ob if du you krank sick wärst were?
15.12 Die the Firma company macht does gute good Geschäfte business in in Deutschland Germany
15.13 Es it tut does gut good, wieder again zu to Hause home zu to sein be
15.14 Morgen tomorrow machen do wir we einen a Ausflug trip nach to Berlin Berlin
15.15 Niemand nobody hat has etwas something dagegen against-it getan done
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15.1 Was tust du heute Abend? What are you doing this evening?
15.2 Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben jeden Tag. I do my homework every day.
15.3 Die Kinder tun nichts außer spielen. The children do nothing except play.
15.4 Kannst du das für mich machen? Can you do that for me?
15.5 Er hat viel zu tun im Büro. He has a lot to do in the office.
15.6 Wir machen immer Sport am Wochenende. We always do sports on the weekend.
15.7 Das tut mir sehr leid. I'm very sorry about that. (literally: That does me very sorry)
15.8 Sie macht einen großen Fehler. She is making a big mistake.
15.9 Gestern haben wir nichts Besonderes getan. Yesterday we didn't do anything special.
15.10 Mein Bruder macht gerade sein Bett. My brother is just making his bed.
15.11 Warum tust du so, als ob du krank wärst? Why do you act as if you were sick?
15.12 Die Firma macht gute Geschäfte in Deutschland. The company does good business in Germany.
15.13 Es tut gut, wieder zu Hause zu sein. It feels good to be home again.
15.14 Morgen machen wir einen Ausflug nach Berlin. Tomorrow we're taking a trip to Berlin.
15.15 Niemand hat etwas dagegen getan. Nobody did anything against it.
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15.1 Was tust du heute Abend?
15.2 Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben jeden Tag.
15.3 Die Kinder tun nichts außer spielen.
15.4 Kannst du das für mich machen?
15.5 Er hat viel zu tun im Büro.
15.6 Wir machen immer Sport am Wochenende.
15.7 Das tut mir sehr leid.
15.8 Sie macht einen großen Fehler.
15.9 Gestern haben wir nichts Besonderes getan.
15.10 Mein Bruder macht gerade sein Bett.
15.11 Warum tust du so, als ob du krank wärst?
15.12 Die Firma macht gute Geschäfte in Deutschland.
15.13 Es tut gut, wieder zu Hause zu sein.
15.14 Morgen machen wir einen Ausflug nach Berlin.
15.15 Niemand hat etwas dagegen getan.
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The German verbs tun and machen both translate to "do" in English, but they are used differently:
Tun (to do): -
Used for general, abstract actions -
Often used in questions about activities -
Common in fixed expressions -
Irregular verb conjugation
Machen (to make/do): -
Used for specific actions that produce results -
Implies creating or completing something -
More concrete than "tun" -
Regular verb conjugation
ich tue (I do) du tust (you do) er/sie/es tut (he/she/it does) wir tun (we do) ihr tut (you all do) sie/Sie tun (they/you formal do)
ich mache (I do/make) du machst (you do/make) er/sie/es macht (he/she/it does/makes) wir machen (we do/make) ihr macht (you all do/make) sie/Sie machen (they/you formal do/make)
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tun → getan (done) -
machen → gemacht (done/made)
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Using "tun" when "machen" is required: Germans say "Hausaufgaben machen" (do homework), not "Hausaufgaben tun" -
Direct translation of English phrases: "How do you do?" is not "Wie tust du tun?" but "Wie geht es Ihnen?" -
Forgetting separable prefixes: Some compound verbs with "machen" are separable (aufmachen, zumachen) -
Wrong auxiliary verb: Both verbs use "haben" in perfect tense, not "sein"
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Ask yourself: Is the action creating or producing something specific? → Use "machen" -
Is it a general activity or abstract concept? → Use "tun" -
Is it a fixed expression? → Check which verb Germans traditionally use -
When in doubt, "machen" is often the safer choice for concrete actions
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English uses "do" for both general and specific actions -
English "make" often corresponds to German "machen" -
German requires more precision in choosing between the two verbs -
Some English "do" expressions use neither verb in German (e.g., "do the dishes" = "abwaschen")
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Understanding the distinction between "tun" and "machen" provides insight into German thinking patterns. Germans tend to be more precise in their language use, distinguishing between abstract actions and concrete results. This reflects a broader cultural tendency toward specificity and clarity.
In everyday conversation, "machen" is more frequently used than "tun." Germans often use "machen" where English speakers might use various verbs. For example, "Party machen" (to party), "Urlaub machen" (to take a vacation), or "Musik machen" (to make music).
The phrase "Das tut mir leid" (I'm sorry, literally "that does me sorrow") is a deeply ingrained expression showing how "tun" appears in emotional contexts. Similarly, "Es tut weh" (it hurts) uses "tun" for physical sensations.
In professional contexts, Germans appreciate when foreign speakers use these verbs correctly. Using "machen" for business activities ("Geschäfte machen") sounds more natural than using "tun." This precision in language use is valued in German business culture.
Regional variations exist: In southern Germany and Austria, you might hear "tun" used more liberally in spoken language, sometimes even as an auxiliary verb, though this is considered non-standard.
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From Goethe's Faust I (1808):
"Was du ererbt von deinen Vätern hast, Erwirb es, um es zu besitzen. Was man nicht nützt, ist eine schwere Last; Nur was der Augenblick erschafft, das kann er nützen."
Was what du you ererbt inherited von from deinen your Vätern fathers hast have, erwirb acquire es it, um in-order es it zu to besitzen possess. Was what man one nicht not nützt uses, ist is eine a schwere heavy Last burden.
"Was du ererbt von deinen Vätern hast, Erwirb es, um es zu besitzen. Was man nicht nützt, ist eine schwere Last; Nur was der Augenblick erschafft, das kann er nützen."
"What you have inherited from your fathers, Acquire it to possess it. What one does not use is a heavy burden; Only what the moment creates can it use."
Was du ererbt von deinen Vätern hast, Erwirb es, um es zu besitzen. Was man nicht nützt, ist eine schwere Last; Nur was der Augenblick erschafft, das kann er nützen.
This passage from Goethe illustrates sophisticated use of German verbs. While neither "tun" nor "machen" appears directly, the concept of "doing" permeates the text through active verbs: -
"ererbt hast" (have inherited) - perfect tense -
"erwirb" (acquire) - imperative mood -
"nützt" (uses) - present tense -
"erschafft" (creates) - present tense
The passage demonstrates how German expresses "doing" through specific, meaningful verbs rather than general ones, reflecting the precision we've studied with tun/machen. Goethe's message about actively engaging with one's inheritance parallels our lesson: passive possession versus active doing.
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15.16 Jeden every Morgen morning macht makes Thomas Thomas zuerst first Kaffee coffee
15.17 Seine his Frau wife tut does immer always so so, als as ob if sie she noch still schläft sleeps
15.18 Die the Kinder children machen make sich themselves fertig ready für for die the Schule school
15.19 Was what machst do du you normalerweise normally zum for-the Frühstück breakfast?
15.20 Nach after dem the Essen eating tut does er he das the Geschirr dishes in in die the Spülmaschine dishwasher
15.21 Um at acht eight Uhr o'clock machen make alle all sich themselves auf on den the Weg way
15.22 Im in-the Büro office macht makes sie she zuerst first ihre her E-Mails emails auf open
15.23 Er he tut does den the ganzen whole Tag day nichts nothing anderes else als than telefonieren phone
15.24 In in der the Mittagspause lunch-break machen do wir we einen a kleinen small Spaziergang walk
15.25 Was what tust do du you, wenn when du you Stress stress hast have?
15.26 Nachmittags in-afternoon macht does er he seine his Einkäufe shopping im in-the Supermarkt supermarket
15.27 Die the Hausaufgaben homework machen do die the Kinder children vor before dem the Abendessen dinner
15.28 Abends in-evening tun do wir we meistens mostly nichts nothing Besonderes special
15.29 Sie she macht makes noch still schnell quickly die the Küche kitchen sauber clean
15.30 Vor before dem the Schlafengehen going-to-sleep tut does er he noch still etwas something lesen read
15.16 Jeden Morgen macht Thomas zuerst Kaffee. Every morning Thomas first makes coffee.
15.17 Seine Frau tut immer so, als ob sie noch schläft. His wife always acts as if she's still sleeping.
15.18 Die Kinder machen sich fertig für die Schule. The children get ready for school.
15.19 Was machst du normalerweise zum Frühstück? What do you normally make for breakfast?
15.20 Nach dem Essen tut er das Geschirr in die Spülmaschine. After eating he puts the dishes in the dishwasher.
15.21 Um acht Uhr machen alle sich auf den Weg. At eight o'clock everyone sets off.
15.22 Im Büro macht sie zuerst ihre E-Mails auf. In the office she first opens her emails.
15.23 Er tut den ganzen Tag nichts anderes als telefonieren. He does nothing else all day but make phone calls.
15.24 In der Mittagspause machen wir einen kleinen Spaziergang. During lunch break we take a small walk.
15.25 Was tust du, wenn du Stress hast? What do you do when you're stressed?
15.26 Nachmittags macht er seine Einkäufe im Supermarkt. In the afternoon he does his shopping at the supermarket.
15.27 Die Hausaufgaben machen die Kinder vor dem Abendessen. The children do their homework before dinner.
15.28 Abends tun wir meistens nichts Besonderes. In the evening we usually don't do anything special.
15.29 Sie macht noch schnell die Küche sauber. She quickly cleans the kitchen.
15.30 Vor dem Schlafengehen tut er noch etwas lesen. Before going to sleep he still does some reading.
15.16 Jeden Morgen macht Thomas zuerst Kaffee.
15.17 Seine Frau tut immer so, als ob sie noch schläft.
15.18 Die Kinder machen sich fertig für die Schule.
15.19 Was machst du normalerweise zum Frühstück?
15.20 Nach dem Essen tut er das Geschirr in die Spülmaschine.
15.21 Um acht Uhr machen alle sich auf den Weg.
15.22 Im Büro macht sie zuerst ihre E-Mails auf.
15.23 Er tut den ganzen Tag nichts anderes als telefonieren.
15.24 In der Mittagspause machen wir einen kleinen Spaziergang.
15.25 Was tust du, wenn du Stress hast?
15.26 Nachmittags macht er seine Einkäufe im Supermarkt.
15.27 Die Hausaufgaben machen die Kinder vor dem Abendessen.
15.28 Abends tun wir meistens nichts Besonderes.
15.29 Sie macht noch schnell die Küche sauber.
15.30 Vor dem Schlafengehen tut er noch etwas lesen.
Fixed Expressions with "machen": -
sich fertig machen (to get ready) -
sauber machen (to clean) -
Kaffee machen (to make coffee) -
Einkäufe machen (to do shopping) -
einen Spaziergang machen (to take a walk) -
sich auf den Weg machen (to set off)
Colloquial Uses of "tun": -
so tun als ob (to act as if) -
etwas lesen tun (colloquial for "to read" - note this is informal) -
in die Spülmaschine tun (to put in the dishwasher)
Time Expressions: Notice how German uses time expressions at the beginning of sentences: -
Jeden Morgen (every morning) -
Nachmittags (in the afternoon) -
Abends (in the evening)
Separable Verbs: Several examples show "machen" in separable verb constructions: -
aufmachen (to open): sie macht ihre E-Mails auf -
sich auf den Weg machen (to set off): alle machen sich auf den Weg
Word Order in Questions: When asking about activities, the verb comes first: -
Was machst du...? (What do you do...?) -
Was tust du...? (What do you do...?)
Reflexive Constructions: Daily routines often use reflexive pronouns: -
sich fertig machen (to get oneself ready) -
sich auf den Weg machen (to set oneself on the way)
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The Latinum Institute has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006, pioneering methods that make classical and modern languages accessible to autodidacts worldwide. These lessons employ the construed text method, where interlinear translations help students understand grammar and vocabulary in context.
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