Cool MateDo what vs Perform
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Do what
Top 2,000 (common)
Perform
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Perform
| Do what | Perform | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //duː wɒt//🇺🇸 //du wɑt// | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈfɔːm/","/pəˈfɔːmz/","/pəˈfɔːmd/","/pəˈfɔːmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈfɔːrm/","/pərˈfɔːrmz/","/pərˈfɔːrmd/","/pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To take action or perform a task. | to do something, especially in front of others |
| Example | You should do what your teacher says to improve your grades. | She will perform a song at the concert tonight. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | do what you love, do what is necessary, do what you can, do what feels right, do what is asked | live, in public, publicly, first performed, rarely performed, see something performed, effectively, efficiently, properly, be able to, be unable to, be expected to, failure to perform something, admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be able to, be unable to, be expected to |
| Antonyms | - | neglect, ignore, abort |
| Common mistakes | Used incorrectly as a question rather than a directive., Confused with 'do that' in similar contexts., Misused in formal writing where a more precise action verb is expected. | Used incorrectly as 'performance' instead of 'perform', Confused with 'present', especially in a non-theatrical context, Using 'perform' without specifying what is being performed |
| Usage notes | Commonly used to indicate taking action or following instructions. Suitable in casual and formal contexts, though 'do what' can seem informal. | Used in contexts such as theater, music, and tasks. Common in both informal and formal settings. Avoid when not discussing an action or task. |
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Frequently asked questions: Do what vs Perform
What's the difference between Do what and Perform?
Do what: To take action or perform a task. Perform: to do something, especially in front of others
Which is more common: Do what and Perform?
Perform is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Do what: You should do what your teacher says to improve your grades. Perform: She will perform a song at the concert tonight.
Can I use Do what and Perform interchangeably?
Not always. Do what and Perform are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.