VOA慢速英语2021--Have and Eat

This week, we answer a question from a reader in China. Jojo writes:

Question:

Good day. I would like to know the difference between "have" and "eat" and when to use them. Thanks a lot.

-Jojo, China

Answer:

Hello Jojo!

When talking about a specific meal or food, the verbs "eat" and "have" are often interchangeable. That means either word can be used.

Listen to an example of when to choose either word:

In the example, most Americans would probably use "eat" but "have" would still sound natural. And there is no different in meaning between the two.

Polite requests

But the word "have" is used in polite or kind requests and offers that relate to food and meals. In these cases, often the eating does not take place at home.

Here's an example of a kind offer from a friend:

Want to have dinner at my place? I'm making grilled¹ fish.

We also use "have" when ordering food at a restaurant. It does not matter what kind of restaurant it is. We do not use eat.

Listen to this short restaurant exchange:

Good morning, what will you have?

We will have the oatmeal, thanks.

Transitive, intransitive

Here is something else to consider when choosing one or the other:

The verb "have" is transitive. That means we must always say what we ate or will eat. For instance², in the restaurant exchange, the man said they would have the oatmeal.

"Eat" is intransitive, which means we do not have to say it. So, you can say this:

I'm really hungry. Let's eat!

But you cannot say, "I'm really hungry. Let's have!" You can, however, say:

I'm really hungry. Let's have pasta!

And that's Ask a Teacher for this week.

Words in This Story

specific - n. relating to a particular person, situation, etc.

polite - adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people

oatmeal - n. oats that have been ground into flour or flattened into flakes

1 grilled   

adj. 烤的, 炙过的, 有格子的 动词grill的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• He was grilled for two hours before the police let him go. 他被严厉盘查了两个小时后，警察才放他走。
• He was grilled until he confessed. 他被严加拷问，直到他承认为止。

2 instance   

n.例，例证，实例

参考例句：

• Can you quote me a recent instance?你能给我举一个最近的例子吗？
• He's a greedy boy,yesterday,for instance,he ate all our biscuits!他是个贪吃的孩子――比如，他昨天把我们的饼干都吃了！