Phrasal verb
have over
Definition
phrasal verb. to invite someone to your home as a guest for a short time.
phrasal verb. to host a person or group at one's residence for a social visit; typically implies a pre-arranged invitation.
Examples
“We should have the neighbors over for coffee soon.”
“Since they just moved in, they are having some friends over for a housewarming party tonight.”
“The ambassador frequently had over various foreign dignitaries to foster better diplomatic relations in a more relaxed, domestic setting.”
Examples
simple
“We should have the neighbors over for coffee soon.”
contextual
“Since they just moved in, they are having some friends over for a housewarming party tonight.”
complex
“The ambassador frequently had over various foreign dignitaries to foster better diplomatic relations in a more relaxed, domestic setting.”
Usage
this is a separable phrasal verb where the guest (the object) usually goes between 'have' and 'over'.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'invite over' (the act of asking) versus 'have over' (the act of hosting); it is almost always used with people as the object.
Pitfall
I will have over my parents.
I will have my parents over.
while not strictly ungrammatical, it is much more natural to place the person between 'have' and 'over'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
over
Separability
optional
Pattern
have + object + over
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/have-over