Verb + Noun Collocations: DO-HAVE-MAKE-TAKE

Verb + Noun Collocations: DO-HAVE-MAKE-TAKE

Hi dear English learners! In today’s lesson, we are going to learn 45+ common verb+ noun collocations: DO-HAVE-MAKE-TAKE. Verbs do, have, make and take are very common in English and as such, they form lots of collocations. Very often, we can’t tell for sure which verb to use. Sometimes, these verbs collocate with the same nouns and the meanings of the collocations they form can be the same or different. For example, have and bath and take a bath have the same meaning, while make a bath means to prepare a bath.

We can also consider the meanings of these verbs when we are not sure whether they collocate with a noun or not. The verb DO refers to performing an activity (do a course, do the dishes); HAVE means to drink, eat, perform an action (have breakfast, have tea, have a shower); MAKE means to cause or create something (make a difference, make a claim); TAKE has to do with performing activities, measuring, eating, drinking, etc. (take action, take a pill, take temperature). Knowing this can help us a lot in determining which verb to use. However, the best way to be certain how the phrase goes correctly is to learn them in context.

Verb + Noun Collocations: DO-HAVE-MAKE-TAKE

Verb+ noun collocations with DO

Do the housework/homework

• My flatmates and I take turns in doing the housework.
• After doing his homework, Brian went cycling in the park.

Do your best – to try and do something to the best of your abilities.

• We should do our best to provide good quality customer service.

Do harm

• Improper light can do harm to your eyes.

Do someone a favour

Will you do me a favour and close the window?

Do something right/ wrong

I hope more people want to do right and use green cars.

Those who do wrong certainly deserve punishment.

Do research

• We went to the mountains to do research on the plants.

Do the shopping

Sara usually does the shopping on Sunday mornings because it’s less busy then.

Do an exam/test

• I’ll go to bed now – I’m doing an exam tomorrow morning.
• If I were to do the test again, I would do it better.

Do good/bad

• Mary was determined to do only good when she grows up.
• People who do bad usually feel bad.

Do exercise

• If you do exercise regularly you’ll get fit in a month. 

Do well – to be successful.

• I can see from the chart that the company is doing well.

Verb + Noun Collocations: DO-HAVE-MAKE-TAKE

Verb + noun collocations with HAVE

Have an appointment  

• I am having an appointment at the dentist’s in the afternoon.

Have advantage/disadvantage

• Simon has the advantage over John in experience.
• Being kind and generous has its disadvantages at times.

Have an argument

• She had an argument with her sister even before they set off.

Have a baby

• Milly is going to have a baby.

Have a bath/shower

• I have a shower every evening but I always have a bath on Sundays.

Have a rest/nap/good night’s sleep

• After they’d been hiking for 3 hours, they had a rest.
• Please be quiet. Grandpa is having a nap.
• I can’t remember the last time I had a good night’s sleep.

Have breakfast/lunch/dinner/a meal/tea/cofe/a drink

• We usually have a light lunch around noon.
• Let’s have a meal in that restaurant.
• Would you like to have a coffee and chat tomorrow?

Have a good / great / whale of a time – to enjoy yourself.

• We had a very good time at the party last night.
• The Smiths had a great time on their holiday in Bali.
• The couple was having a whale of a time on their cruise.

Have a chance/opportunity

• I didn’t have a chance to talk to him.
• We had an opportunity to give suggestions at yesterday’s meeting.

Have a point – to have a valuable argument.

• I must admit you have a point here.

Have a suggestion

I have a suggestion we can all benefit from.

Have an excuse

• You don’t have a good excuse for not exercising.

Have fun

• We always have a lot of fun when Robert is around. He’s so funny.

Verb + Noun Collocations: DO-HAVE-MAKE-TAKE

Verb + noun collocations with MAKE

Make arrangements

• I would like to make arrangements for my holiday.

Make an attempt

• The government is making an attempt to increase pension funds.

Make a break – to escape from something.

• The thief made a break through the crowd and managed to escape.

Make a breakthrough – a discovery that enables you to solve a problem or improve something significantly.

• The drug made a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

Make a complaint

• Tenants made a complaint about pests in the building.

Make a decision

• I’m sorry but I can’t make a decision before I discuss this with my husband.

Make a difference – to improve something.

• Yoga can make a big difference to depression if you do it regularly.

Make a discovery –  to find information, especially for the first time.

• Alexander Graham Bell made some great scientific discoveries.

Make an exception –  to not treat someone by the established rules.

• We don’t usually serve breakfast so early but we’ll make an exception.

Make progress

• I’m glad you’re making progress with your English.

Make a mistake

• Steven made lots of spelling mistakes on his worksheet.

Make a promise

• Whenever he made a promise, Mark tried to keep it.

Verb + Noun Collocations: DO-HAVE-MAKE-TAKE

Verb + noun collocations with TAKE

Take a photo

• Now when we’re together, we must take a photo.

Take a break – to stop doing something for a while and rest.

• It’s almost noon, let’s take a break.

Take sugar/milk in your tea/coffee

• Do you take milk or sugar in your tea?

Take a test/exam

• We took a test drive with that Lamborghini. It was marvellous.

Take (one’s) time

• It takes time to recover from the flu.
• You don’t have to hurry. Take your time.

Take a message

• I’m afraid Robert is not at home at the moment. Can I take a message?

Take a look

While we are in Istanbul, let’s take a look at the sights.

Take care

• Will you take care of yourself while I’m away?

Take a bow

• At the end of the performance, all actors came out on stage and took a bow.

Verb + Noun Collocations: DO-HAVE-MAKE-TAKE

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