do an exercise

Meaning

This phrase means to complete a task, activity, or set of questions designed to help someone learn or practice a skill. It is commonly used by teachers when giving instructions or by students talking about their homework. Unlike physical workouts, in an academic context, it refers strictly to mental or written practice.

Examples

• We need to do an exercise on page 42 for homework tonight.

  We need to do an exercise on page 42 for homework tonight.

• Let's do an exercise together before you try it on your own.

  Let's do an exercise together before you try it on your own.

• I always do an exercise in my grammar book before the exam.

  I always do an exercise in my grammar book before the exam.

• The teacher asked us to do an exercise to practice our listening skills.

  The teacher asked us to do an exercise to practice our listening skills.

• Did you do the exercise about past tense verbs?

  Did you do the exercise about past tense verbs?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to make an exercise in my textbook.

  ✓ I need to do an exercise in my textbook.

  Learners often translate literally from their native language and use 'make' instead of 'do'. In English, we always 'do' exercises, tasks, or homework.

• ✗ We did a physical exercise in our math class.

  ✓ We did a math exercise in our class.

  While 'physical exercise' refers to working out or sports, in a classroom setting, just saying 'do an exercise' typically refers to academic tasks.

Related Expressions

Practice

• To practice your vocabulary, you should ___ in your workbook.

  💡 Use the verb 'do'.

  Show answer

  do an exercise

• Our teacher told us to ___ before the class ends.

  💡 Complete a practice task.

  Show answer

  do an exercise