Lesson

Verbs - Expressions with 'Have'

Common expressions using have

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

What are Expressions with 'Have'?

Expressions with 'have' are common collocations where 'have' combines with nouns, past participles, or other words to express possession, obligation, experiences, actions, or idiomatic meanings. In business English, these expressions help you describe meetings, responsibilities, problems, and social interactions.

  • They often take the form: have + noun (have a meeting, have a look).
  • They can express obligation with have to (I have to finish this).
  • They form idioms: have a word with (speak briefly), have trouble (experience difficulty).

Table

Common Expressions with 'Have'

Expression Meaning Example
have a meeting attend a scheduled meeting I have a meeting with the London team at 9 AM.
have to express obligation / must You have to submit the invoice by Friday.
have a look take a quick look or review I'll have a look at the draft this afternoon.
have trouble experience difficulty She has trouble connecting to the VPN.
have a word with speak briefly with someone Can I have a word with you after the call?
have experience (in) possess experience in a field He has experience in project management.
have someone do something ask or arrange for someone to perform an action I will have the assistant prepare the slides.

Tip

Key rule: 'Have' + noun vs 'have to' + verb

Distinguish between 'have' as possession/collocation and 'have to' as obligation:

  • 'have' + noun = possession or a collocation: I have a question; we have a meeting.
  • 'have to' + base verb = obligation: I have to finish; she has to agree.
  • 'have' changes form with subject: I/you/we/they have, he/she/it has.

Check the structure: if the meaning is obligation, use 'have to' + base verb; otherwise, use 'have' + noun or other collocation.

Example

Examples in context

I have a meeting with the client at 10 AM.

We have to finalize the budget before Monday.

Could you have a look at this proposal?

She has trouble logging into the system after the update.

Tip

Common mistakes with 'have' expressions

Watch out for these universal errors when using 'have' expressions:

  • Using the wrong verb form after 'have to' (e.g., 'have to finishing' — incorrect).
  • Forgetting third-person singular 'has' (e.g., 'She have a meeting' — incorrect).
  • Confusing 'have' + noun with present perfect 'have' + past participle (meaning changes).
  • Dropping articles with collocations that require them (e.g., 'have meeting' — should be 'have a meeting' unless context demands otherwise).

Check subject-verb agreement, verb forms after 'have to', and whether the collocation needs an article.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Focus on the correct structure for obligation with 'have to'.

Quiz

Complete: She _____ a lot of experience in marketing.

Hint: Check subject-verb agreement for third-person singular.

Quiz

Which expression means 'to ask someone for a short conversation'?

Hint: Think about idioms used for short, informal conversations.

Key Points

Expression

have a meeting

expression CEFR B1 //hæv ə ˈmiːtɪŋ//

to attend or schedule a meeting

We have a meeting with the design team at 2 PM.

GrammarPoint

have to

modal expression CEFR B1 //hæv tuː//

used to express obligation or necessity (must)

You have to complete the form before the interview.

Expression

have a look

expression CEFR A2 //hæv ə lʊk//

to look at something briefly or review it

I'll have a look at the report and send feedback.

Expression

have trouble

expression CEFR B1 //hæv ˈtrʌbəl//

to experience difficulty doing something

He has trouble accessing the database remotely.

Expression

have a word with

idiom CEFR B2 //hæv ə wɜːd wɪð//

to speak briefly with someone, usually privately

Can I have a word with you after the meeting?

Vocabulary

have experience (in)

phrase CEFR B2 //hæv ɪkˈspɪəriəns ɪn//

to possess knowledge or skill gained from practice or work in a field

She has experience in international sales and client relations.

GrammarPoint

have someone do something

grammar pattern CEFR B2 //hæv ˈsʌmwʌn duː ˈsʌmθɪŋ//

to arrange for or instruct someone to perform an action

I'll have the assistant send the updated files.