VOA名师答疑2023--To Do or Create?

To Do or Create?

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about the difference between "create" and "do."

Question

Hello Learning¹ English,

I would like to ask you about the word "essay." Do we say, "create an essay" or "do an essay?"

Thank you for your help,

Mekhpara

Answer

Dear Mekhpara,

This is a great question, and one that we actually have not talked about. Your question is less about the word "essay," and more about the choice of which verb to use, "do" or "create."

Let's look at each of these more closely². Let's start with "do."

Do

The verb "do" is an irregular verb that has many uses.

We use "do" for actions that we are required or must do and for general activities that we often repeat.

I will do the dishes tonight after dinner.

We also use "do" to show the completion or achievement of things.

Is that report done?

Sometimes we use "do" for talking about a job or for studying.

What did you do at your last job?

We can use "do" to mean "produce" something, like an essay or something artistic³. We use it in place of more specific verbs that focus on the operative action. Using "do" focuses more on the general action or completion of the action.

I'm doing my essay this weekend, so I do not have to worry about it over spring break.

I'm writing my essay this weekend, so I do not have to worry about it over spring break.

She did the painting in watercolors.

She painted in watercolors.

This brings us to "create."

Create

To "create" something means to bring something new into existence. When we think of "create," we think of something new that has not been produced before.

To "create" something requires imagination, a special skill or talent, a new method, or a unique process.

Heather likes to create new dances for her students.

She created the recipe from just 5 simple ingredients⁵.

We can "create" an essay. For example, your teacher might ask you to "create" an essay about a problem or a solution.

But think about the actions that you perform to "create" the essay. You might research the subject, form ideas about how to express yourself and more. Yet finally, to create an essay you must write. This is the required action and the more specific verb.

So just like "do" is a less specific verb, here "create" is the less specific verb for the entire process of writing an essay.

Tony is writing an essay about climate change.

I wrote many essays in college.

Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Mekhpara.

Words in This Story

essay - n. a piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject

irregular – adj. not following the usual rules about what should be done

achievement – n. a thing that is completed successfully

watercolors – n. colored paints combined with water or a wet brush to create an effect

unique – adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else

ingredient⁴ – n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

3 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

4 ingredient   

n.（烹饪）等的材料，原料，成分，因素

参考例句：

• The basic ingredient of this meal is rice.这一餐的主要原料是大米。
• Trust is a key ingredient.信任是关键要素。

5 ingredients   

n.（混合物的）组成部分( ingredient的名词复数 )；（烹调的）原料；（构成）要素；因素

参考例句：

• All ingredients are readily available from your local store. 所有的原料都可以方便地从你当地的商店买到。
• We never use second quality ingredients to build building. 我们决不使用次等材料用于建筑。 来自《简明英汉词典》