Have a party means to hold a party and invite guests. The host brings people together at home, in a café or at the office, usually for a particular occasion. The occasion follows for or to celebrate: have a party for her birthday.
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have a party + for + person/occasion; have a party + to celebrate + noun; had (past); throw a party
- Let's have a party at our place when you get back from Australia.
- My parents had a big party for their twentieth wedding anniversary.
- Our team has a party every December in a restaurant near the office.
What changed
First versionWe want to make a party for Dad's birthday.
RevisionWe want to have a party for Dad's birthday.
Make can seem like the natural verb for organising an event, and that is where make a party comes from. But in English a party isn't made, it is held: have a party or throw a party. Make doesn't combine with party in this sense, so make was changed to have.
Throw a party means the same but sounds more informal, and it is often used for surprises: They threw a surprise party for her fortieth birthday. As a verb, party doesn't mean organising a party but celebrating and having fun: We partied until three in the morning.
Your turn
We're ___ a party on Saturday for Tom's thirtieth birthday.
Show the answer
having — We are organising a celebration for Tom's thirtieth birthday and inviting guests, so we're having a party. A native speaker wouldn't say making a party: you have or throw a party, you don't make one.
Write a short invitation to a friend: say why you're having a party and when it will be.
I'm having a party next Saturday evening to celebrate my new job. Would you like to come?
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