Appendix:Collocations of do, have, make, and take

This appendix lists collocations of the verbs make, do, take, and have.

In many of these usages the verbs are "light verbs" that lend relatively little semantic content. Other light verbs include: give, pay, put, raise, offer.

For people who are learning English, or even who speak it moderately well, these four verbs present difficulties when it comes to many collocations. For example, what about the shopping? Is it do the shopping, or make the shopping? How about photograph (see picture)? Do a photograph or make a photograph? Neither! You should take a photograph... and so on. This appendix is an attempt to clear up some of the most common doubts and errors.

This is not a definitive list. The intention is orientative. All the following nouns and expressions can, of course, take other verbs. The four options do, make, take, have are in the sense of doing the activity. Have, for instance, normally indicates possession, but that is not the sense of the verb as used in each of the collocations listed in this table. To have a bath, for example, does NOT normally mean to possess a bath. In each case, the idea of the verb is to do the activity.

Readers of this appendix are strongly recommended to read the main entry for the noun or expression to check for correct usage and meaning.

Contributors are encouraged to place Usage notes into this appendix similarly, and also into the collocate's main entry, such as:
 * We normally do the shopping.
 * We normally make or take a (tele)phone call.
 * ...and so on, along with the Appendix: link to this page.

Collocations
{| class="wikitable" ! Term ! do ! make ! take ! have ! notes
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 * colspan=6 |

A

 * action
 * take action
 * To take action means to act positively and decisively to resolve a problem.
 * advantage
 * take advantage, take advantage of
 * have an advantage
 * To take advantage of something or someone means to profit from the momentary situation of the person or thing.
 * To have an advantage means to be in a better position than someone else.
 * amends
 * make amends
 * To make amends means to compensate for a loss or injury.
 * application
 * make an application
 * take an application
 * To make an application means to apply for something. Usually a job, or a bank account, etc..
 * To take an application from someone means to allow someone to apply to you or to a party whom you are representing.
 * appointment
 * make an appointment
 * have an appointment
 * To make an appointment means to organise a meeting with other people.
 * To have an appointment means you are to participate in a meeting with other people.
 * argument
 * make an argument
 * have an argument
 * To have an argument with someone means to argue with that person.
 * To make an argument for something means to present a logical argument in its favor.
 * arrangements
 * make arrangements
 * To make arrangements means to organise or arrange.
 * attempt
 * make an attempt
 * To make an attempt means to try, to attempt.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To take an application from someone means to allow someone to apply to you or to a party whom you are representing.
 * appointment
 * make an appointment
 * have an appointment
 * To make an appointment means to organise a meeting with other people.
 * To have an appointment means you are to participate in a meeting with other people.
 * argument
 * make an argument
 * have an argument
 * To have an argument with someone means to argue with that person.
 * To make an argument for something means to present a logical argument in its favor.
 * arrangements
 * make arrangements
 * To make arrangements means to organise or arrange.
 * attempt
 * make an attempt
 * To make an attempt means to try, to attempt.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make an argument for something means to present a logical argument in its favor.
 * arrangements
 * make arrangements
 * To make arrangements means to organise or arrange.
 * attempt
 * make an attempt
 * To make an attempt means to try, to attempt.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make arrangements means to organise or arrange.
 * attempt
 * make an attempt
 * To make an attempt means to try, to attempt.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make an attempt means to try, to attempt.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make an attempt means to try, to attempt.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

B

 * baby
 * make a baby
 * have a baby
 * To make a baby is, informally, to engage in sexual intercourse, leading to impregnation.
 * To have a baby is to give birth, to produce a child.
 * bath
 * make a bath
 * take a bath
 * have a bath
 * To take or have a bath is to bathe oneself.
 * To make a bath is to prepare a bath to the right temperature.
 * bed
 * make the bed, make one's bed
 * To make the or one's bed is to arrange its sheets and covers nicely and rectify any disorder that was caused by sleeping in it.
 * best
 * do one's best, best
 * make the best of
 * have the best
 * If you do your best, it means you have acted correctly and that no-one can expect more from you.
 * To make the best of a situation means to take as much advantage as possible from a bad situation. See take advantage.
 * To have the best is to be in possession of the best of something.
 * bid
 * make a bid
 * take bids
 * To make a bid means to bid, to make a monetary or economic offer.
 * To take bids is to solicit offers from several competitors, with the intention of accepting the best bid.
 * bite
 * take a bite
 * have a bite
 * To take a bite means to bite.
 * To take a bite and
 * To have a bite both mean to eat a quick, light snack.
 * bow
 * make a bow
 * take a bow
 * To make a bow means to bow.
 * To take a bow means to bow or to accept applause. See take a bow.
 * break
 * make a break
 * take a break
 * have a break
 * To make a break means to try to escape, to break.
 * To take and have a break means to rest from work for a short while, to break.
 * To have a break (more often get a break) also means to be lucky.
 * breakthrough
 * make a breakthrough
 * have a breakthrough
 * To make a breakthrough means to make an important discovery.
 * To have a breakthrough means to realize something about oneself.
 * business
 * do business
 * make business
 * take business
 * have business
 * To do business means to agree a commercial contract.
 * To have business with someone means to have matters to be settled with that person.
 * To take business is to deprive a competitor of a customer by acquiring that customer.
 * To make business is to create a business opportunity
 * colspan=6 |
 * take a bow
 * To make a bow means to bow.
 * To take a bow means to bow or to accept applause. See take a bow.
 * break
 * make a break
 * take a break
 * have a break
 * To make a break means to try to escape, to break.
 * To take and have a break means to rest from work for a short while, to break.
 * To have a break (more often get a break) also means to be lucky.
 * breakthrough
 * make a breakthrough
 * have a breakthrough
 * To make a breakthrough means to make an important discovery.
 * To have a breakthrough means to realize something about oneself.
 * business
 * do business
 * make business
 * take business
 * have business
 * To do business means to agree a commercial contract.
 * To have business with someone means to have matters to be settled with that person.
 * To take business is to deprive a competitor of a customer by acquiring that customer.
 * To make business is to create a business opportunity
 * colspan=6 |
 * business
 * do business
 * make business
 * take business
 * have business
 * To do business means to agree a commercial contract.
 * To have business with someone means to have matters to be settled with that person.
 * To take business is to deprive a competitor of a customer by acquiring that customer.
 * To make business is to create a business opportunity
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

C

 * cancellation
 * make a cancellation
 * have a cancellation
 * To make a cancellation means to contact the person you have an appointment with and to be the person who cancels it.
 * To have a cancellation means that a person who had an appointment with you told you they would not attend the appointment. The phrase often implies that the appointment time will then be available to someone else so they can be seen sooner than they would have been otherwise.
 * care
 * take care, take care of
 * have a care
 * To take care means to be careful.
 * To take care of someone or something means to look after it. See also take care.
 * To have a care means to be careful because you are upsetting someone.
 * certain
 * make certain
 * To make certain of something means to check that something is correct. See also make sure.
 * chance
 * take a chance, take chances
 * have a chance
 * To take a chance means to try something risky. See take a chance.
 * To have a chance means to have some possibility of success.
 * charge
 * make a charge
 * take charge
 * To make a charge for something means to request money for an item or service; it can also mean to make an accusation.
 * To take charge of something is to assume authority over it.
 * claim
 * make a claim
 * take a claim
 * have a claim
 * To make a claim is usually applied to legal court cases where damages and retribution payments are claimed from the accused.
 * To take a claim is to have someone submit a claim to you.
 * To have a claim to or on something is to be entitled or potentially entitled to it.
 * class
 * do a class
 * take a class
 * have a class, have class
 * To do a class means to teach a single class as an instructor.
 * To take a class means to attend a class as a student for a semester or year or the like;
 * To have (a) class refers to either attending a single class session as a student or teaching it as an instructor. (Note that to have class can also mean "to be classy, sophisticated".)
 * complaint
 * make a complaint
 * take a complaint
 * To make a complaint means to complain about bad service or faulty goods.
 * To take a complaint means to have someone submit a complaint to you.
 * concert
 * do a concert
 * To do a concert means to undertake a musical performance. The register is informal; to give a concert is a more typical collocation.
 * concession
 * make a concession
 * To make a concession means to concede, to yield to, or grant a request even though it is not in agreement with the normal rules.
 * contact
 * make contact (with)
 * have contact (with)
 * To make contact with someone means to establish communication with them or contact them.
 * To have contact with someone simply means to communicate with them.
 * conversation
 * make conversation
 * have a conversation
 * To make conversation means to start a conversation with someone with no other aim than to talk and break the silence.
 * To have a conversation means to converse.
 * colspan=6 |
 * have a class, have class
 * To do a class means to teach a single class as an instructor.
 * To take a class means to attend a class as a student for a semester or year or the like;
 * To have (a) class refers to either attending a single class session as a student or teaching it as an instructor. (Note that to have class can also mean "to be classy, sophisticated".)
 * complaint
 * make a complaint
 * take a complaint
 * To make a complaint means to complain about bad service or faulty goods.
 * To take a complaint means to have someone submit a complaint to you.
 * concert
 * do a concert
 * To do a concert means to undertake a musical performance. The register is informal; to give a concert is a more typical collocation.
 * concession
 * make a concession
 * To make a concession means to concede, to yield to, or grant a request even though it is not in agreement with the normal rules.
 * contact
 * make contact (with)
 * have contact (with)
 * To make contact with someone means to establish communication with them or contact them.
 * To have contact with someone simply means to communicate with them.
 * conversation
 * make conversation
 * have a conversation
 * To make conversation means to start a conversation with someone with no other aim than to talk and break the silence.
 * To have a conversation means to converse.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make a concession means to concede, to yield to, or grant a request even though it is not in agreement with the normal rules.
 * contact
 * make contact (with)
 * have contact (with)
 * To make contact with someone means to establish communication with them or contact them.
 * To have contact with someone simply means to communicate with them.
 * conversation
 * make conversation
 * have a conversation
 * To make conversation means to start a conversation with someone with no other aim than to talk and break the silence.
 * To have a conversation means to converse.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To have contact with someone simply means to communicate with them.
 * conversation
 * make conversation
 * have a conversation
 * To make conversation means to start a conversation with someone with no other aim than to talk and break the silence.
 * To have a conversation means to converse.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make conversation means to start a conversation with someone with no other aim than to talk and break the silence.
 * To have a conversation means to converse.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

D

 * deal
 * do a deal
 * make a deal
 * take a deal
 * have a deal
 * To do or make  a deal means to make a contract with someone.
 * To take a deal means to accept a contract or agreement that someone offers to you.
 * To have a deal means to have explicitly agreed upon an obligation with someone, sometimes asked to formalize an agreement. ("Do we have a deal?")
 * decision
 * make a decision
 * take a decision
 * To make or take a decision is to decide. Make is about 50 times more common in the US; 7 times in the UK.
 * demands
 * make demands on
 * To make demands on someone means to give them a lot of work to do or to impose a burden on them.
 * difference
 * make a difference
 * take the difference
 * To make a difference is to have a significant impact, or to matter.
 * To take the difference (always with the) means to calculate the difference between two quantities.
 * discovery
 * make a discovery
 * To make a discovery is to discover something.
 * dishes
 * do the dishes
 * To do the dishes is to wash dirty dishes, cutlery and so on by hand.
 * dump
 * take a dump
 * To take a dump is to defecate (vulgar slang).
 * colspan=6 |
 * take the difference
 * To make a difference is to have a significant impact, or to matter.
 * To take the difference (always with the) means to calculate the difference between two quantities.
 * discovery
 * make a discovery
 * To make a discovery is to discover something.
 * dishes
 * do the dishes
 * To do the dishes is to wash dirty dishes, cutlery and so on by hand.
 * dump
 * take a dump
 * To take a dump is to defecate (vulgar slang).
 * colspan=6 |
 * dishes
 * do the dishes
 * To do the dishes is to wash dirty dishes, cutlery and so on by hand.
 * dump
 * take a dump
 * To take a dump is to defecate (vulgar slang).
 * colspan=6 |
 * To do the dishes is to wash dirty dishes, cutlery and so on by hand.
 * dump
 * take a dump
 * To take a dump is to defecate (vulgar slang).
 * colspan=6 |
 * take a dump
 * To take a dump is to defecate (vulgar slang).
 * colspan=6 |
 * To take a dump is to defecate (vulgar slang).
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

E

 * effort
 * make an effort
 * take (a lot of) effort
 * To make or put forth an effort is to try.
 * An activity takes a lot of effort when it is very difficult to do, or is strenuous.
 * enquiry
 * make an enquiry
 * To make an enquiry means to ask or inquire.
 * error
 * make an error
 * To make or commit an error is to err.
 * exam
 * take an exam
 * have an exam
 * When students take, complete, sit for, or sit an exam, test, or quiz, they are tested to demonstrate knowledge or competency; educators  set or  write it (create it for students to take) and then  give it (have the students complete it).
 * To have an exam is to be given it.
 * example
 * make an example of
 * To make an example of someone is to punish someone to disuade others from repeating the offense. See make an example of.
 * exception
 * make an exception (for)
 * take exception, take exception to
 * To make an exception is to grant a request even though it is not in agreement with the normal rules.
 * To make an exception for is to except. See also make a concession.
 * To take exception to something means to be offended by something, usually something that is said. See also take exception.
 * excuse
 * make an excuse, make excuses
 * have an excuse
 * To make an excuse means to excuse, to justify or explain the reason for an incorrect action.
 * To have an excuse means to have a good reason for an incorrect action, whether it is stated or not.
 * exercise
 * do some exercise, do some exercises
 * take exercise
 * To take (some) exercise means to exercise the body. Do needs a quantifier.
 * To do some or an exercise means to exercise the body.
 * To do an exercise can also mean to resolve a problem set in a class.
 * experiment
 * do an experiment
 * make an experiment
 * Generally, one does an experiment in a laboratory, and one makes an experiment when one tries out an idea to see if it works.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make an example of someone is to punish someone to disuade others from repeating the offense. See make an example of.
 * exception
 * make an exception (for)
 * take exception, take exception to
 * To make an exception is to grant a request even though it is not in agreement with the normal rules.
 * To make an exception for is to except. See also make a concession.
 * To take exception to something means to be offended by something, usually something that is said. See also take exception.
 * excuse
 * make an excuse, make excuses
 * have an excuse
 * To make an excuse means to excuse, to justify or explain the reason for an incorrect action.
 * To have an excuse means to have a good reason for an incorrect action, whether it is stated or not.
 * exercise
 * do some exercise, do some exercises
 * take exercise
 * To take (some) exercise means to exercise the body. Do needs a quantifier.
 * To do some or an exercise means to exercise the body.
 * To do an exercise can also mean to resolve a problem set in a class.
 * experiment
 * do an experiment
 * make an experiment
 * Generally, one does an experiment in a laboratory, and one makes an experiment when one tries out an idea to see if it works.
 * colspan=6 |
 * take exercise
 * To take (some) exercise means to exercise the body. Do needs a quantifier.
 * To do some or an exercise means to exercise the body.
 * To do an exercise can also mean to resolve a problem set in a class.
 * experiment
 * do an experiment
 * make an experiment
 * Generally, one does an experiment in a laboratory, and one makes an experiment when one tries out an idea to see if it works.
 * colspan=6 |
 * do an experiment
 * make an experiment
 * Generally, one does an experiment in a laboratory, and one makes an experiment when one tries out an idea to see if it works.
 * colspan=6 |
 * Generally, one does an experiment in a laboratory, and one makes an experiment when one tries out an idea to see if it works.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

F

 * favour
 * do a favour,  favor
 * To do a favour means to help someone with no thought of reward or payment.
 * fortune
 * make a fortune
 * To make a fortune means to amass wealth.
 * friend
 * make a friend; make friends with
 * To make friends is to strike up or start a new friendship or become friends.
 * fun
 * make fun of
 * have fun
 * To make fun of something or someone is to mock or belittle them.
 * To have fun is to enjoy oneself.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make a fortune means to amass wealth.
 * friend
 * make a friend; make friends with
 * To make friends is to strike up or start a new friendship or become friends.
 * fun
 * make fun of
 * have fun
 * To make fun of something or someone is to mock or belittle them.
 * To have fun is to enjoy oneself.
 * colspan=6 |
 * fun
 * make fun of
 * have fun
 * To make fun of something or someone is to mock or belittle them.
 * To have fun is to enjoy oneself.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make fun of something or someone is to mock or belittle them.
 * To have fun is to enjoy oneself.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

G

 * good
 * do (some) good
 * make good
 * To do good or do some good means to do something constructive or helpful.
 * To make good has a number of meanings, including to put right.
 * grudge
 * have a grudge
 * To have a grudge (also to or ) is to maintain a negative feeling against someone or something because of a previous wrong against oneself by that someone or something.
 * colspan=6 |
 * grudge
 * have a grudge
 * To have a grudge (also to or ) is to maintain a negative feeling against someone or something because of a previous wrong against oneself by that someone or something.
 * colspan=6 |
 * have a grudge
 * To have a grudge (also to or ) is to maintain a negative feeling against someone or something because of a previous wrong against oneself by that someone or something.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To have a grudge (also to or ) is to maintain a negative feeling against someone or something because of a previous wrong against oneself by that someone or something.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

H

 * harm
 * do (some) harm
 * To do harm or some harm means to harm, to do something destructive, or hurtful, or unhelpful.
 * headway
 * make headway
 * To make headway means to progress in the desired direction.
 * heart
 * make a heart
 * take heart
 * have a heart, have heart
 * To make a heart is to create the shape of a heart.
 * To take heart is to be cheered up.
 * To have a heart is to be generous.
 * To have heart is to be courageous or persistent.
 * hostage
 * take someone hostage
 * To take (a person or group) hostage is to detain that person or people until a specific demand is met. The demand is often addressed to someone other than the people who are held hostage.
 * colspan=6 |
 * make a heart
 * take heart
 * have a heart, have heart
 * To make a heart is to create the shape of a heart.
 * To take heart is to be cheered up.
 * To have a heart is to be generous.
 * To have heart is to be courageous or persistent.
 * hostage
 * take someone hostage
 * To take (a person or group) hostage is to detain that person or people until a specific demand is met. The demand is often addressed to someone other than the people who are held hostage.
 * colspan=6 |
 * take someone hostage
 * To take (a person or group) hostage is to detain that person or people until a specific demand is met. The demand is often addressed to someone other than the people who are held hostage.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To take (a person or group) hostage is to detain that person or people until a specific demand is met. The demand is often addressed to someone other than the people who are held hostage.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To take (a person or group) hostage is to detain that person or people until a specific demand is met. The demand is often addressed to someone other than the people who are held hostage.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

I

 * inquiry
 * make an inquiry
 * To make an inquiry means to ask, to inquire.
 * investment
 * make an investment
 * To make an investment means to invest time or money.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make an inquiry means to ask, to inquire.
 * investment
 * make an investment
 * To make an investment means to invest time or money.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make an investment means to invest time or money.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make an investment means to invest time or money.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

L

 * laugh
 * make someone laugh
 * have a (good) laugh
 * To have a laugh is to laugh, or to enjoy laughing with friends.
 * To make someone laugh is to do or say something that causes that person to laugh.
 * lead
 * take the lead
 * have a/the lead
 * To take the lead /li:d/ means to be the leader, or to demonstrate the correct way to do something. Also to gain the lead position in a competition.
 * To have a lead means to have the lead position.
 * list
 * make a list
 * To make a list means to write a list.
 * look
 * take a look
 * have a look
 * To take or have a look at something means to look at it (with purpose).
 * loss
 * make a loss
 * take a loss
 * To make or take a loss means to lose money on an investment or a bet.
 * lunch
 * do lunch
 * make lunch
 * take lunch
 * have lunch
 * To do lunch is to have a lunchtime meeting with someone, typically at a restaurant.
 * To make lunch is to prepare food for lunch.
 * To take (one's) lunch can mean to take a scheduled lunch break from work. To take lunch more often means literally to bring a packed lunch.
 * To have lunch is to eat lunch.
 * colspan=6 |
 * have a look
 * To take or have a look at something means to look at it (with purpose).
 * loss
 * make a loss
 * take a loss
 * To make or take a loss means to lose money on an investment or a bet.
 * lunch
 * do lunch
 * make lunch
 * take lunch
 * have lunch
 * To do lunch is to have a lunchtime meeting with someone, typically at a restaurant.
 * To make lunch is to prepare food for lunch.
 * To take (one's) lunch can mean to take a scheduled lunch break from work. To take lunch more often means literally to bring a packed lunch.
 * To have lunch is to eat lunch.
 * colspan=6 |
 * have lunch
 * To do lunch is to have a lunchtime meeting with someone, typically at a restaurant.
 * To make lunch is to prepare food for lunch.
 * To take (one's) lunch can mean to take a scheduled lunch break from work. To take lunch more often means literally to bring a packed lunch.
 * To have lunch is to eat lunch.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

M

 * meal
 * make a meal, make a meal of
 * take a meal
 * have a meal
 * To make a meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc) means to prepare the food for that meal.
 * To make a meal of means to spend more time and energy on some task than it warrants.
 * To take a meal and to have a meal mean to eat the food. (Note: do lunch with someone or have a working lunch means to eat lunch with someone while working at the same time.)
 * mention
 * make (a) mention of
 * To make (a) mention of something is to mention it, to say it or talk about it briefly.
 * messages
 * do the messages
 * take a message
 * have a message, have a message for someone
 * To do the messages is an expression used in Scotland, Ireland and Northern England meaning to do the shopping, to buy groceries.
 * To take a message is to write down or record a message given (e.g. by a telephone caller) for someone who is absent.
 * To have a message for someone is to wish to convey a message to someone (or to be in possession of a message one is to give to someone on another person's behalf).
 * To have a message means that a message taken in one's absence is awaiting one.
 * mistake
 * make a mistake
 * To make a mistake is to err.
 * mockery
 * make a mockery of
 * To make a mockery of something or someone is to mock or belittle them.
 * model
 * make a model (of)
 * To make a model means to fabricate or build a model structure.
 * To make a model of {something} means to model it, to build a model of it.
 * money
 * make money
 * To make money means to gain monetary income.
 * colspan=6 |
 * make a mistake
 * To make a mistake is to err.
 * mockery
 * make a mockery of
 * To make a mockery of something or someone is to mock or belittle them.
 * model
 * make a model (of)
 * To make a model means to fabricate or build a model structure.
 * To make a model of {something} means to model it, to build a model of it.
 * money
 * make money
 * To make money means to gain monetary income.
 * colspan=6 |
 * model
 * make a model (of)
 * To make a model means to fabricate or build a model structure.
 * To make a model of {something} means to model it, to build a model of it.
 * money
 * make money
 * To make money means to gain monetary income.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make a model of {something} means to model it, to build a model of it.
 * money
 * make money
 * To make money means to gain monetary income.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make money means to gain monetary income.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make money means to gain monetary income.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

N

 * nap
 * take a nap
 * have a nap
 * To take or have a nap means to nap, sleep for a short while.
 * noise
 * make a noise
 * To make a noise is the act of creating a sound that can be heard.
 * note
 * make note (of)
 * take note (of)
 * To make note or take note is to note or notice (something).
 * notes
 * make notes
 * take notes
 * To make or take notes is to write the notes, usually to record on paper what someone is saying.
 * number
 * do a number, do a number on someone
 * take a number
 * To do a number is to perform an act, usually a song.
 * To do a number on someone is to cheat or trick them.
 * To take a number is, literally, to physically take a ticket containing a number that determines your position in a queue.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make note or take note is to note or notice (something).
 * notes
 * make notes
 * take notes
 * To make or take notes is to write the notes, usually to record on paper what someone is saying.
 * number
 * do a number, do a number on someone
 * take a number
 * To do a number is to perform an act, usually a song.
 * To do a number on someone is to cheat or trick them.
 * To take a number is, literally, to physically take a ticket containing a number that determines your position in a queue.
 * colspan=6 |
 * do a number, do a number on someone
 * take a number
 * To do a number is to perform an act, usually a song.
 * To do a number on someone is to cheat or trick them.
 * To take a number is, literally, to physically take a ticket containing a number that determines your position in a queue.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To do a number on someone is to cheat or trick them.
 * To take a number is, literally, to physically take a ticket containing a number that determines your position in a queue.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

O

 * operation
 * do an operation on someone
 * make an operation
 * have an operation
 * To do an operation means to operate medically on someone.
 * To make an operation means to conclude a business transaction.
 * To have an operation means for someone to medically operate on you.
 * opportunity
 * make an opportunity
 * take an opportunity
 * have an opportunity
 * To take an opportunity means to the same as take advantage of a situation.
 * To make an opportunity means to arrange things to your advantage.
 * To have an opportunity means to be at the right place at the right time to do something advantageous.
 * colspan=6 |
 * have an opportunity
 * To take an opportunity means to the same as take advantage of a situation.
 * To make an opportunity means to arrange things to your advantage.
 * To have an opportunity means to be at the right place at the right time to do something advantageous.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

P

 * party
 * have a party
 * To have a party is to organise an informal event with friends, or to enjoy oneself.
 * phone call
 * make a (tele)phone call
 * take a (tele)phone call
 * To make a telephone call is to initiate a call to another person, In technical usage, initiating a call is referred to as placing a call.
 * To take a telephone call is to answer a call, to pick up the phone in response to a call.
 * picture
 * take a picture (also photograph, video, etc.)
 * To take a picture means to capture an image using a photographic camera.
 * plan
 * make a plan
 * have a plan
 * To make a plan is to develop an idea.
 * To have a plan is possess, generally in one's mind, an idea that is ready.
 * point
 * make a point, make a point of doing something
 * take someone's point
 * have a point
 * To make a point means to state a logical argument.
 * To make a point of doing something means to be sure not to forget to do it, to do it consciously to ensure one does not forget.
 * To take someone's point means to accept or at least acknowledge someone's argument.
 * To have a point means to have a valid argument.
 * progress
 * make progress
 * To make progress is to advance.
 * promise
 * make a promise to someone
 * take someone's promise
 * have promise
 * To make a promise to someone is to affirm, or vow, to do something without fail.
 * To take someone's promise means to accept at their word that they will keep their promise and act accordingly.
 * To have promise is to be promising.
 * colspan=6 |
 * point
 * make a point, make a point of doing something
 * take someone's point
 * have a point
 * To make a point means to state a logical argument.
 * To make a point of doing something means to be sure not to forget to do it, to do it consciously to ensure one does not forget.
 * To take someone's point means to accept or at least acknowledge someone's argument.
 * To have a point means to have a valid argument.
 * progress
 * make progress
 * To make progress is to advance.
 * promise
 * make a promise to someone
 * take someone's promise
 * have promise
 * To make a promise to someone is to affirm, or vow, to do something without fail.
 * To take someone's promise means to accept at their word that they will keep their promise and act accordingly.
 * To have promise is to be promising.
 * colspan=6 |
 * promise
 * make a promise to someone
 * take someone's promise
 * have promise
 * To make a promise to someone is to affirm, or vow, to do something without fail.
 * To take someone's promise means to accept at their word that they will keep their promise and act accordingly.
 * To have promise is to be promising.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To have promise is to be promising.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

R

 * research
 * do research
 * To do research is to try to discover something new by doing experiments, or to discover information by checking through factual resources such as books or scientific journals.
 * rest
 * take a rest
 * have a rest
 * To take or have a rest is to rest, or to stop doing something.
 * ride
 * take a ride
 * have a ride
 * To take or have a ride on some form of transport is to use it to get somewhere. To take a ride (without a following prepositional phrase) also means to take a turn riding something unspecified.
 * To have a ride (without a following prepositional phrase) usually means to have arranged for transport for oneself.
 * Note also that many forms of transport collocate with take, meaning to use it or ride it somewhere, as in "take the train," "take a taxi," etc.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To take or have a rest is to rest, or to stop doing something.
 * ride
 * take a ride
 * have a ride
 * To take or have a ride on some form of transport is to use it to get somewhere. To take a ride (without a following prepositional phrase) also means to take a turn riding something unspecified.
 * To have a ride (without a following prepositional phrase) usually means to have arranged for transport for oneself.
 * Note also that many forms of transport collocate with take, meaning to use it or ride it somewhere, as in "take the train," "take a taxi," etc.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To take or have a ride on some form of transport is to use it to get somewhere. To take a ride (without a following prepositional phrase) also means to take a turn riding something unspecified.
 * To have a ride (without a following prepositional phrase) usually means to have arranged for transport for oneself.
 * Note also that many forms of transport collocate with take, meaning to use it or ride it somewhere, as in "take the train," "take a taxi," etc.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

S

 * sense
 * make sense (of)
 * have sense
 * To make sense means to communicate clearly and understandably, or of something inanimate (e.g. a situation or idea), to be rational or understandable.
 * To make sense of something means to understand it.
 * To have sense means to be sensible.
 * shopping
 * do the shopping
 * To do the shopping means to go to the local shops to buy household needs such as food, clothes, cleaning things, and so on.
 * stock
 * take stock
 * have (in) stock
 * To take stock is literally to assess inventory of a store or business, and more generally to assess one's situation before moving forward with a task.
 * If a business has (a) stock of something or has the item in stock, there is a supply of it in their inventory.
 * stop
 * make a stop
 * To make a stop means to take a break in the middle of a journey.
 * store
 * have store of
 * To have store of means to store something or to have something in storage.
 * shower
 * take a shower
 * have a shower
 * To take or have a shower means to wash one's body under a shower to get clean.
 * suggestion
 * make a suggestion
 * take someone's suggestion
 * have a suggestion
 * To make a suggestion means to present an idea to another person or group for their consideration.
 * To take someone's suggestion means to accept the idea they have presented.
 * To have a suggestion means to have an idea to present. In the past tense it can mean the same as made a suggestion.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make a stop means to take a break in the middle of a journey.
 * store
 * have store of
 * To have store of means to store something or to have something in storage.
 * shower
 * take a shower
 * have a shower
 * To take or have a shower means to wash one's body under a shower to get clean.
 * suggestion
 * make a suggestion
 * take someone's suggestion
 * have a suggestion
 * To make a suggestion means to present an idea to another person or group for their consideration.
 * To take someone's suggestion means to accept the idea they have presented.
 * To have a suggestion means to have an idea to present. In the past tense it can mean the same as made a suggestion.
 * colspan=6 |
 * have a shower
 * To take or have a shower means to wash one's body under a shower to get clean.
 * suggestion
 * make a suggestion
 * take someone's suggestion
 * have a suggestion
 * To make a suggestion means to present an idea to another person or group for their consideration.
 * To take someone's suggestion means to accept the idea they have presented.
 * To have a suggestion means to have an idea to present. In the past tense it can mean the same as made a suggestion.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To make a suggestion means to present an idea to another person or group for their consideration.
 * To take someone's suggestion means to accept the idea they have presented.
 * To have a suggestion means to have an idea to present. In the past tense it can mean the same as made a suggestion.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

T

 * talk
 * do a talk
 * have a talk
 * To do a talk means to give an oral presentation or lecture.
 * To have a talk with someone means to speak with them seriously.
 * tea
 * make tea
 * take tea
 * have tea
 * To make tea (or coffee, etc) is to prepare the drink.
 * To take tea and
 * To have tea both mean to drink some tea (or coffee, etc), with taking tea suggesting a more formal event. To have tea with someone implies that it is a social meeting or break, accompanied by conversation.
 * In the UK, to have (one's) tea can also mean to have the evening meal.
 * test
 * do a test
 * take a test
 * have a test
 * To do a test is the same as to do an experiment. For take and have, see the notes for exam.
 * time
 * do time
 * make time
 * take time, take one's time
 * have (the) time, have (a) time
 * To do time means to be a prisoner in prison.
 * To make time for an activity means to arrange one's agenda so that there is enough time to do that activity.
 * If something takes time it means it is not quick to do.
 * To take one's time means to be slow and careful in doing something.
 * If one has (the) time for something, it means there is an available period in one's schedule for it. To have the time can also mean to know or be able to quickly find out what time it is.
 * To have a (good, bad, hard, etc.) time is to enjoy, resent, struggle with, etc. an activity, and by extension the time spent on it.
 * trouble
 * make trouble
 * take trouble, take the trouble to
 * have trouble
 * To make trouble means to cause or provoke problems for other people, especially conflict or fighting.
 * To take trouble means to be meticulous or careful in how one does an activity.
 * To take the trouble to do something is to do something, especially generously for another person, that one did not necessarily have to do.
 * To have trouble means to suffer from errors or problems, especially in having trouble with a task or stiuation.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To take one's time means to be slow and careful in doing something.
 * If one has (the) time for something, it means there is an available period in one's schedule for it. To have the time can also mean to know or be able to quickly find out what time it is.
 * To have a (good, bad, hard, etc.) time is to enjoy, resent, struggle with, etc. an activity, and by extension the time spent on it.
 * trouble
 * make trouble
 * take trouble, take the trouble to
 * have trouble
 * To make trouble means to cause or provoke problems for other people, especially conflict or fighting.
 * To take trouble means to be meticulous or careful in how one does an activity.
 * To take the trouble to do something is to do something, especially generously for another person, that one did not necessarily have to do.
 * To have trouble means to suffer from errors or problems, especially in having trouble with a task or stiuation.
 * colspan=6 |
 * To take the trouble to do something is to do something, especially generously for another person, that one did not necessarily have to do.
 * To have trouble means to suffer from errors or problems, especially in having trouble with a task or stiuation.
 * colspan=6 |
 * colspan=6 |

W

 * walk
 * take a walk
 * To take a walk (also go for a walk) is to walk or stroll around.
 * war
 * make war
 * To make war means to start a war against someone or something.
 * washing-up
 * do the washing-up
 * To do the washing-up means to wash the dirty plates, dishes, cutlery, and so on after a meal.
 * well
 * do well
 * If you do well, it means you have acted correctly and the best you can, or that you are prospering. See also do one's best.
 * wish
 * make a wish
 * If you make a wish, it means you express, often silently, a desire for some particular outcome.
 * words
 * have words / a word
 * To have a word or words with someone is to tell them off or to argue with them.
 * To have a word with someone could be a gentle rebuke or request without hostility, but to have words means there is hostility and quarrelling. You can request Can I have a word with you? but not Can I have words with you?
 * work
 * do (some) work
 * make work
 * have work
 * If you do some work, you are working.
 * You make work (for someone else, or for yourself) when the task is needless or your efforts are counterproductive.
 * To have work is to be employed, or (also to have work to do) to have tasks that require completion.
 * compounds of work
 * do homework, housework etc.
 * Most derivations of work collocate with do in the sense of completing them.
 * }
 * If you do well, it means you have acted correctly and the best you can, or that you are prospering. See also do one's best.
 * wish
 * make a wish
 * If you make a wish, it means you express, often silently, a desire for some particular outcome.
 * words
 * have words / a word
 * To have a word or words with someone is to tell them off or to argue with them.
 * To have a word with someone could be a gentle rebuke or request without hostility, but to have words means there is hostility and quarrelling. You can request Can I have a word with you? but not Can I have words with you?
 * work
 * do (some) work
 * make work
 * have work
 * If you do some work, you are working.
 * You make work (for someone else, or for yourself) when the task is needless or your efforts are counterproductive.
 * To have work is to be employed, or (also to have work to do) to have tasks that require completion.
 * compounds of work
 * do homework, housework etc.
 * Most derivations of work collocate with do in the sense of completing them.
 * }
 * work
 * do (some) work
 * make work
 * have work
 * If you do some work, you are working.
 * You make work (for someone else, or for yourself) when the task is needless or your efforts are counterproductive.
 * To have work is to be employed, or (also to have work to do) to have tasks that require completion.
 * compounds of work
 * do homework, housework etc.
 * Most derivations of work collocate with do in the sense of completing them.
 * }
 * compounds of work
 * do homework, housework etc.
 * Most derivations of work collocate with do in the sense of completing them.
 * }
 * Most derivations of work collocate with do in the sense of completing them.
 * }
 * }

make
In light-verb constructions "make" implies an active role by the subject, who causes something new to occur or come into existence from pre-existing material or a pre-existing situation or the normal course of events.

take
"Take" implies an active role by the subject, but no change in the object except for its ownership.

do
"Do" implies that the subject is active, but fitting into a pre-existing role. In addition do is often used when someone performs an action, activity or task.

have
"Have" implies a greater degree of passivity and no causation.

get
When used with a participle, it implies a change from a state without the action of the verb to a state with it. For the present participle that means starting to do the (intransitive, continuous) action of the verb. For the past participle that means receiving the action of the verb.

When used with an infinitive, it means that one is allowed to perform the action of the verb, or to assume the state of a stative verb.

When have is followed by got and an infinitive, it means that one must perform the action of the verb, or to assume the state of a stative verb. In other words, it's exactly equivalent to have and the infinitive. In informal, proscribed usage, the word have is left out in the present tense. In such cases, the only way to tell this from the past tense of the get-and-infinitive construction above is through the context.

give
"Give" implies a degree of activity by the subject, but also the involvement of a recipient.