ENGLISH
REFERENCE

have sth in common

idiom.
B1 Intermediate Oxford

idiom. to share the same interests, experiences, or features as someone else.

idiom. to possess shared characteristics, interests, or qualities with another entity; often used to describe interpersonal compatibility or categorical similarities.


SIMPLE

My brother and I have nothing in common.

CONTEXTUAL

Even though they grew up in different countries, they found they had a lot in common.

COMPLEX

The two architectural styles have several structural elements in common, despite originating in vastly different historical periods.

Usage

usually used with 'a lot', 'much', 'nothing', or 'something' to show the degree of similarity.

Teaching tip

encourage students to use 'with' to connect the two subjects, or use a plural subject like 'we' or 'they' to show the shared link.

Pitfall

We have many things in common.We have a lot in common.while 'many things' is grammatically possible, 'a lot' or 'much' are the standard collocations for this phrase.

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