Phrasal verb
have around
Definition
phrasal verb. to keep someone or something near you because you enjoy their company or find them useful.
phrasal verb. to maintain the presence or proximity of a person or object for companionship, convenience, or utility.
Examples
“It is nice to have you around.”
“She likes to have her dog around while she works because it makes her feel less lonely.”
“While the old machinery is somewhat inefficient, the foreman prefers to have it around in case the primary system fails during a peak production cycle.”
Examples
simple
“It is nice to have you around.”
contextual
“She likes to have her dog around while she works because it makes her feel less lonely.”
complex
“While the old machinery is somewhat inefficient, the foreman prefers to have it around in case the primary system fails during a peak production cycle.”
Usage
usually takes a person or a useful object as the direct object.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'have over', which implies a specific invitation to one's home, whereas 'have around' implies a general or ongoing presence.
Pitfall
I like have around my friends.
I like having my friends around.
this phrasal verb is separable; the object usually sits between 'have' and 'around' or follows 'around', and 'have' must follow standard verb patterns.
Phrasal verb
Particles
around
Separability
optional
Pattern
have + object + around
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/have-around