 English expressions with make, do, take, and have. This video is brought to you by the following English learning websites. English expressions don't always make sense. For example, why do we say, take time, make money, do homework, and have fun? There's no simple answer, no rhyme or reason. Suffice it to say that certain expressions developed over the years as they were used by people who spoke the language. Nowadays, these expressions are considered correct by most native speakers. In this video, we will take a look at some of the most common expressions in order to make sense of it all. We'll divide them into four groups. Take plus object, make plus object, do plus object, have plus object. Note, the sources of this information is eslgold.com. Number one, let's start with take expressions. The word take generally means carry something over there. However, in some idiomatic expressions, it doesn't mean that at all. Here are some common expressions with take plus a or an object. Take a nap, take a break, take a bath, take a shower, going places, other expressions with take. We sometimes use take in expressions involving travel or movement. For example, take a walk, take a trip, take a vacation. Also, take a bus, take the train, take a plane, take the subway or metro. Take the stairs, take the escalator, take the elevator, take time. We often say take plus time to indicate the duration of a trip or activity. For example, it takes five minutes to get there. It takes about three hours to roast a turkey. How long does it take you to get to the office? It takes me twenty minutes. Now, here's where it gets a bit complicated. Take transportation and take time. The word take is often used to indicate both time and mode of transportation. For example, how long does it take you to get to work? It takes me twenty minutes. How do you get there? I take the subway. Notice the difference in grammar here. It takes twenty minutes. The word it is a subject placeholder here, like it is raining. It hasn't got any meaning of its own. I take the subway. This is a real subject. I am the one taking the subway. In these cases, think of take as use. For example, we take the bus to school every day. That's like saying we use the bus to go to school. It takes us half an hour. We use half an hour of time. Also, take can be used to indicate the route, path, or roadway. They take Highway 94 to get to Fargo. That means they use Highway 94 to get to Fargo. More expressions with take. Some other common expressions with take plus object are take a class, take a course, take a test, take medicine, take pills. We don't usually say eat medicine. A few more abstract expressions. Sometimes the object is not something you can see or hold, but it is something abstract. For example, take an opportunity, take a chance, take a risk, take a gamble. Finally, there are lots of idiomatic expressions with take. Take care, take care of, take place, take turns, take a hike, take a spin, take a look at, take it easy, take your time, take someone's word, take it or leave it, take a rain check, take advantage of, take something for granted, take it or can't take it, take the heat, take charge, take the cake, take a pass, take the fifth, take heart. These expressions will be explained in the glossary at the end of this video. Two, expressions with make. The expressions with make plus object are varied and quite unrelated. Some of the most common are make money, make $50,000, make friends. In the US we usually quote salaries in yearly amounts before taxes. Some other countries do it in monthly amounts. Other common expressions. Some other expressions with this pattern are make a mistake, make a mess, make a face, make an impression. Idiomatic expressions with make, expression, meaning, make sense, seem logical, make believe, pretend, make it work, cause something to function, make do, accept a second choice solution, make good on, keep one's promise, make amends, compensate for a mistake, make a decision or make a choice, decide, make up your mind, come to a conclusion, choose an option, make fun of, ridicule, mock or belittle someone or something. Three, expressions with do plus object. Some people get the words do and make mixed up in English. Here are some common expressions with do plus object. Do once homework, do the dishes, do the laundry, do the housework or do the house cleaning. Activities with do plus object. We sometimes use do with sports or related activities. For example, do exercise, do sports, do aerobics, do martial arts such as karate or kung fu. Do gymnastics, do calisthenics, do a dance. Unlike the others, this one does not refer to the general activity. It refers to a specific dance or something like a dance. More expressions with do. Here are some other common expressions with do plus object. Do your best, give your highest effort. Do the best you can. That means basically the same thing as do your best with the implication that you can do your best regardless of the outcome, whether you win or not. Do once part. Perform your portion of the work. Do someone a favor. Do a special task for someone. Do one's duty. Perform your responsibility. Do time. Spend time in prison. Do the trick. This one focuses more on the action than on the person. For example, that does the trick. That action achieves a specific result. For expressions with have plus object. There are a few expressions in English with have plus object. Many of them are associated with enjoyment or entertainment. Some of the most common are have fun, have a good time, have a blast, have a ball, have a party. Talking about meals, we commonly use have with meals. For example, have dinner or have supper, have breakfast, have lunch, have brunch. What's the difference between eat lunch and have lunch? Usually the focus of eat is on consuming food. I'm eating a sandwich. The focus of have can be on the entire experience. Sitting at the table, often with others, and enjoying a meal. Offering and wishing well. The expression have plus object can be used when offering something to someone. For example, here, have a cookie. Have some soup. It can also be used when wishing someone well. For example, have a nice weekend or have a great weekend. Have a good day, have a good time. More expressions with have. Here are some common expressions with have plus object. Have trouble, have difficulty, have a problem. Have a meeting, have an appointment. Have a talk or have a chat with someone. Have a baby or child. This actually has two meanings. Number one means give birth. My sister had a baby yesterday. That means she gave birth yesterday. Two include in one's family. She has two children now. Idiomatic expressions with have. There are quite a few idiomatic expressions with have. Some common ones are have it. Meaning have a special or cool quality or characteristic. Have it all. Have everything. Family, wealth, health, career, etc. Have it made. Reach a point in life where nothing else is needed. Have it coming. Deserve negative consequences for bad behavior. Have what it takes. Have qualities to achieve success. For example, hard work, intelligence, strength, perseverance. I've had it. Or I've had enough. I cannot tolerate any more. Slight differences in British and American English. There are few slight differences in how people use these expressions in British and American English. For example, in Great Britain, some people might say have a look. Whereas in the US, they say take a look. Meals. In England, some people might say take lunch or breakfast. In the US, they say have lunch or have breakfast. Nowadays, it is also fashionable to say do lunch or do brunch. Note. If you ask an American, did you take your breakfast? They will probably respond, take it where? Practice. Fill in the blanks with the correct verbs. Take, make, have, do. Feel free to pause the video if you'd like more time. Here are the answers. I have a meeting this afternoon at 3 o'clock. It will take 10 minutes to finish the assignment. Did you do your homework last night? She's really tired. She needs to take a break. Please don't make a mistake. This should be perfect. Did you have a good time yesterday? Don't forget to take your medicine. Whenever I do gymnastics, I get sore muscles. He needs to take a bath every morning before work. How much money did you make at the fair? Glossary one. Idioms with take. Expression. General meaning. Take care. Be careful. Also, see you later. Take care of. Watch over or be responsible for someone or something. Take place. Occur or happen. Take turns. Regularly alternate with others to do an activity. Take a hike. Walk or climb a mountain trail. Get out of here. This is slang. Take a spin. Go for a casual drive. Take a look at. Observe something and provide feedback. Glossary two. Idioms with take. Expression. General meaning. Take it easy. Relax. Don't be stressed out. Take your time. There's no need to hurry. Take someone's word. Believe what someone says. Take it or leave it. It's your choice. It's up to you. Take a rain check. Plan to do something at another time. Take advantage of. Use this opportunity. Exploit the chance. Take something for granted. Not fully appreciate something when you have it. Glossary three. Expressions with take. Expression. General meaning. Can't take it. Can't endure hardship or difficulty. We can also use this in the positive. I can take it. That means I can endure hardship or difficulty. Take the heat. Endure pressure or criticism. Take charge. Assume a leadership role. Also take the lead. Take a pass. Skip this opportunity. Usually because I don't want to do it. Take the fifth. Avoid self-incrimination in court. Take heart. Don't be discouraged. Look on the bright side. This comes from the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in which an accused person doesn't need to say anything to incriminate himself or herself or make him guilty in court. Hope that was helpful. If you have any questions or would like to make suggestions for our next video, please send us your ideas at eslgold.com-submit-question. Thanks for watching. Please give us a like in the comment section below. And remember to subscribe to our channel.