ENGLISH
REFERENCE

have sth in common with sth

fixed phr..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

fixed phr.. to share the same interests, ideas, or features as someone or something else.

fixed phr.. to possess shared characteristics, interests, or qualities with another entity; used to establish a basis for comparison or connection.


SIMPLE

I have a lot in common with my sister.

CONTEXTUAL

The two cities have very little in common with each other despite being in the same country.

COMPLEX

The new architectural style has much in common with the minimalist movements of the early twentieth century, emphasizing clean lines and functional spaces.

Usage

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

Teaching tip

encourage students to use this phrase when finding partners for 'get-to-know-you' activities to move beyond simple 'I like' sentences.

Pitfall

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

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