The verb “have” is one of the most flexible words in English. We use it to talk about possession, experiences, meals, emotions, conversations, and much more. But what’s tricky is that “have” often teams up with other words in specific combinations—called collocations.
If you’ve ever wondered why we say “have a shower” but not “do a shower,” or “have fun” instead of “make fun”, you’re in the right place.
In this guide, we’ll break down 204 useful collocations with have, organized by topic, with easy explanations and real examples.
What Are Collocations with Have?
A collocation is a natural combination of words that are commonly used together. A collocation with “have” usually follows this structure:
- have + noun
Example:
Incorrect
I did a great time. (unnatural)
Correct
I had a great time.
Knowing these common collocations helps you speak and write in a more natural, native-like way.
Why Learn Collocations with Have?
- You’ll sound more fluent and less robotic.
- You’ll avoid common ESL mistakes.
- You’ll better understand English idioms and expressions.
- You’ll be able to express ideas clearly and easily.
Most Common Patterns
Here are the main categories where “have” collocations are most frequent:
- Have + meals or drinks
- Have + conversations or interactions
- Have + feelings or experiences
- Have + health-related issues
- Have + events or problems
- Have + relationships and responsibilities
Let’s explore each category.
Collocations with Have (Meals & Drinks)
These are essential collocations for everyday conversations.
| Collocation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| have breakfast | eat breakfast | I usually have breakfast at 8 a.m. |
| have lunch | eat lunch | Let’s have lunch together. |
| have dinner | eat dinner | We had dinner at a nice restaurant. |
| have a snack | eat a small amount | He had a snack before bed. |
| have a bite | eat a small portion | Want to have a bite before we go? |
| have a drink | consume a beverage | Can I have a drink of water? |
| have a coffee | drink coffee | Let’s have a coffee and catch up. |
| have tea | drink tea | They had tea with biscuits. |
| have a meal | eat any meal | We had a meal at home. |
| have seconds | eat a second helping | The food was so good I had seconds. |
Collocations with Have (Conversations & Interactions)
Use these for social situations and communication.
| Collocation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| have a chat | talk casually | Let’s have a chat about your progress. |
| have a conversation | talk with someone | They had a deep conversation last night. |
| have a talk | discuss something important | We need to have a talk. |
| have an argument | disagree strongly | They had an argument over money. |
| have a discussion | discuss a topic | We had a discussion about the budget. |
| have a meeting | meet formally | We have a meeting at 3 p.m. |
| have a word (with) | speak briefly to someone | Can I have a word with you? |
| have a laugh | enjoy a humorous moment | We had a good laugh watching that movie. |
| have a call | phone someone | I need to have a call with my boss. |
| have a debate | exchange views formally | Students had a debate on social media use. |
Collocations with Have (Experiences & Emotions)
These are great for talking about your day, travel, or how you’re feeling.
| Collocation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| have fun | enjoy yourself | We had so much fun at the party. |
| have a good time | enjoy an event | Did you have a good time on vacation? |
| have a bad day | experience a rough day | I’m having a bad day, honestly. |
| have an experience | go through something | He had a strange experience last night. |
| have a nightmare | experience a bad dream | I had a nightmare about exams. |
| have a dream | experience a dream | She had a dream about her grandmother. |
| have a feeling | sense or believe something | I have a feeling he’s hiding something. |
| have a headache | experience head pain | I have a terrible headache. |
| have a cold | suffer from a common illness | She has a cold and stayed home. |
| have a fever | high body temperature | He has a fever and chills. |
Collocations with Have (Events, Activities & Life Situations)
These are useful for personal and professional contexts.
| Collocation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| have a break | take a short rest | Let’s have a break and get coffee. |
| have a holiday | take time off | We’re having a holiday in December. |
| have a baby | give birth | She had a baby last week. |
| have a party | organize a celebration | We’re having a party this Friday. |
| have a trip | go somewhere | I had a trip to New York last week. |
| have a nap | sleep briefly | I need to have a nap before dinner. |
| have an interview | go through a job interview | I have an interview tomorrow. |
| have an exam | take a test | She had an exam this morning. |
| have an accident | be involved in an incident | They had an accident on the highway. |
| have an opportunity | get the chance to do something | I had an opportunity to study abroad. |
Collocations with Have (Relationships & Responsibilities)
These collocations are perfect for talking about people, commitments, or duties.
| Collocation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| have a family | raise children | They have a big family. |
| have a girlfriend/boyfriend | be in a relationship | He has a girlfriend in college. |
| have kids | be a parent | Do you have any kids? |
| have a responsibility | be accountable | I have a responsibility to lead. |
| have a right | be entitled to something | Everyone has a right to express themselves. |
| have an obligation | be required to do something | We have an obligation to help. |
| have a duty | be responsible for something | Soldiers have a duty to serve. |
| have a boss | be employed by someone | I have a great boss at work. |
| have a coworker | work with someone | She has supportive coworkers. |
| have a customer/client | work for someone | We have new clients this month. |
Collocations with Have (Problems & Difficulties)
Use these to talk about challenges in personal or work life.
| Collocation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| have trouble | experience difficulty | He’s having trouble sleeping. |
| have a problem | face a challenge | I have a problem with this software. |
| have a misunderstanding | not understand correctly | They had a misunderstanding at work. |
| have a complaint | express dissatisfaction | I have a complaint about the service. |
| have a dispute | argue or disagree | They had a legal dispute. |
| have an issue | face a concern | We have an issue with the system. |
| have difficulty | struggle with something | He has difficulty focusing. |
| have a crisis | face a serious situation | The company had a crisis last year. |
| have bad luck | be unlucky | He always has bad luck with traffic. |
| have regrets | feel sorry for past actions | She has no regrets about quitting. |
200+ Collocations with Have (Quick List)
- have a dream
- have a plan
- have a bath
- have a shower
- have breakfast
- have lunch
- have dinner
- have a snack
- have a drink
- have a cup of tea
- have coffee
- have a meal
- have a nap
- have a rest
- have a break
- have a holiday
- have a vacation
- have a good time
- have fun
- have a party
- have a meeting
- have a conversation
- have a chat
- have a discussion
- have an argument
- have a quarrel
- have a fight
- have a baby
- have children
- have a family
- have a relationship
- have a boyfriend
- have a girlfriend
- have a husband
- have a wife
- have a pet
- have a car
- have a house
- have an idea
- have a feeling
- have a headache
- have a cold
- have a fever
- have the flu
- have a sore throat
- have an injury
- have an operation
- have surgery
- have a heart attack
- have an accident
- have an allergy
- have a problem
- have a question
- have a look
- have a go
- have a try
- have a shot
- have a chance
- have an opportunity
- have a laugh
- have a cry
- have a smile
- have a yawn
- have a sneeze
- have a cough
- have a look around
- have a seat
- have a talk
- have a walk
- have a run
- have a swim
- have a dance
- have a ride
- have a drive
- have a game
- have a bet
- have a guess
- have a result
- have a test
- have an exam
- have a check-up
- have a treatment
- have a diagnosis
- have a prescription
- have faith
- have hope
- have courage
- have confidence
- have patience
- have an interest
- have an intention
- have a habit
- have a need
- have a desire
- have a preference
- have the right
- have the authority
- have permission
- have control
- have influence
- have power
- have responsibility
- have respect
- have sympathy
- have compassion
- have empathy
- have envy
- have pride
- have trust
- have doubts
- have fear
- have anxiety
- have depression
- have success
- have failure
- have trouble
- have difficulty
- have a setback
- have a solution
- have an advantage
- have a disadvantage
- have a point
- have a goal
- have a purpose
- have a vision
- have motivation
- have ambition
- have a contract
- have a job
- have a career
- have a business
- have a salary
- have a promotion
- have a raise
- have a meeting scheduled
- have a deadline
- have a client
- have a customer
- have a supplier
- have a manager
- have an employee
- have a colleague
- have a report
- have a project
- have a strategy
- have a plan of action
- have insurance
- have coverage
- have access
- have resources
- have equipment
- have support
- have a backup
- have a mentor
- have training
- have a presentation
- have a schedule
- have a timeline
- have materials
- have funding
- have profit
- have losses
- have a budget
- have a balance
- have accounts
- have debt
- have savings
- have a bank account
- have a credit card
- have a loan
- have investments
- have property
- have a mortgage
- have assets
- have liabilities
- have a reputation
- have connections
- have experience
- have knowledge
- have skills
- have talent
- have a degree
- have qualifications
- have expertise
- have a license
- have permission to leave
- have grounds
- have room
- have a place
- have time
- have energy
- have a moment
- have the chance
- have no clue
- have no idea
- have no time
- have something to say
- have someone over
- have someone around
- have someone in mind
- have someone on your side
- have something on your mind
- have your doubts
- have the last word
Final Thoughts
When it comes to everyday fluency, collocations with “have” are essential. These aren’t just grammar—they’re what people really say in everyday English. By learning these patterns, you’ll be more confident, more natural, and far more effective in both speaking and writing.
Use them in real life. Practice them in writing. And next time you hear someone say “have a blast” or “have an idea,” you’ll know exactly why it sounds right.