Have breakfast means to eat breakfast, the morning meal. English typically uses have with meals: have lunch, have dinner. Eat breakfast is also correct, but have is the more natural choice.
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have breakfast; have a big/quick breakfast; have breakfast at + time
- We always have breakfast together before the kids go to school.
- I didn't have breakfast this morning, so I'm starving now.
- Guests can have breakfast in the hotel restaurant until ten.
What changed
First versionI always have a breakfast before leaving for work.
RevisionI always have breakfast before leaving for work.
It's tempting to add the article a before breakfast, since the meal is a single, countable event that morning. But breakfast in this phrase normally goes without an article, because it describes a routine meal rather than one specific breakfast described in detail. A is only needed with a description, like a big breakfast.
Have breakfast means to eat breakfast yourself, while make breakfast means to prepare it: I made breakfast for the kids but didn't have time to eat anything myself.
Your turn
On weekdays we ___ at seven and leave for the office at eight.
Show the answer
have breakfast — On weekdays describes a regular routine: breakfast at the same time every day, with no extra detail about it. So have breakfast without an article is correct, and have a breakfast is a mistake here.
Describe your usual breakfast: what time you have it and what you usually eat.
I have breakfast at seven every morning, usually just toast and coffee.
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