eat versus have + breakfast...

Question

I learned that have + breakfast means desayunar, however I'm working with an online exercise of a book called Connect Second Edition which is said

Connect Second Edition is a fun, four-level, multi-skills American English course written and designed specifically for young adolescents.

And instead of have breakfast I find to eat breakfast... so I don't know if this second form is really used in the US... what's happening!?

Thanks!

I'm interested in American English. I don't like to learn British because it might cause problems. :D - AntMexico, May 20, 2010

Answer 1

Hola, Morba

We may say:

Let's eat breakfast.

Let's go to breakfast.

Let's have breakfast.

Let's get breakfast.

Thanks! - AntMexico, May 20, 2010

De nada, chico. (Is it polite if I say "Chico?" - Delores--Lindsey, May 20, 2010

At least you're a closer friend it's OK ... but don't worry about me ;) - AntMexico, May 20, 2010

Gracias! - Delores--Lindsey, May 20, 2010

Answer 2

I agree with Delores. To "have" breakfast and to "eat" breakfast (dinner, lunch) are the same.

Examples:

I eat breakfast at 7 a.m.

I have lunch at noon.

I have breakfast with my mother on Wednesdays.

I usually eat dinner at home.

Thanks a lot! - AntMexico, May 20, 2010

Answer 3

I do not allow my students to use "eat breakfast" ( with minor typographical emendations).

Lo siento, mi reina, pero es absolutamente aceptable en los Estados Juntitos y, por lo que yo sepa, en Englaterra, tambien. Usamso indistamente "eat"/"have" a meal (culaqiera que sea). Desde luego, podemos emplear tambien verbos que expresan directament la misma idea (to breakfast, to lunch, to dine).

ues nada querido, si te parece lo cuentas a mis sufridos alumnos, yo sé que si no se es drástico, no hay nada que hacer, y en América de todas formas sois raritos, jejeje - 00494d19, May 20, 2010

Answer 4

I do noot allow my students to use eat breakfast, as this is marked wrong at school.

In my opinion it is a wrong choice of wording anyway, very confusing. After all you don't eat your coffee, and this is part of having breakfast. I teach them the exact difference that way, to make it clear to them they cannot use eat breakfast.

I ate an apple for breakfast, but, I had breakfast at 8.

And yes, I know you can use eat, but that is a very delicate matter to teach, I prefer to be drastic, like with subject pronouns in Spanish jeje

Oh, Heidita, you are so drastic. jeje. In the US, we have a meal or we eat a meal (even if some of it is drunk). - CalvoViejo, May 20, 2010

Answer 5

You can also use "breakfast" as a verb, though it's not common. "I breakfast at 7:30 every morning."

Thanks CalvoViejo! - AntMexico, May 20, 2010

Answer 6

Are at noon and at midday interchangeable?

• I have lunch at noon.
• I have lunch at midday.

More or less - Noon is probably more precisely 12 o'clock - ian-hill, May 20, 2010

Ian, I usually don't think about a distinction; just use whichever pops into my mind. :-) - Delores--Lindsey, May 20, 2010