Cool MateConsume vs We'll have them for supper
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Consume
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
We'll have them for supper
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Consume
| Consume | We'll have them for supper | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈsjuːm/","/kənˈsjuːmz/","/kənˈsjuːmd/","/kənˈsjuːmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈsuːm/","/kənˈsuːmz/","/kənˈsuːmd/","/kənˈsuːmɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wiːl hæv ðɛm fɔːr ˈsʌpə//🇺🇸 //wil hæv ðɛm fɔr ˈsʌpər// |
| Meaning | To eat or drink something or to use up something. | We will eat them for dinner. |
| Example | We need to consume less energy to help the environment. | We'll have them for supper after the meeting. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | consume food, consume resources, consume energy, consume alcohol, consume information | have dinner, have a meal, have guests, have food |
| Antonyms | produce, generate | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'consume' with 'use'; they can mean different things., Using 'consuming' as an incorrect verb form without an object., Mixing up the noun form 'consumption' with 'consume.' | Confused with different types of meals (e.g., dinner vs. supper)., Misunderstanding the subject ('them' could refer to anything)., Using 'have' inappropriately with non-food items. |
| Usage notes | Use 'consume' in contexts related to food, energy, or resources. It's appropriate in both spoken and written language, but avoid it in very casual conversation where simpler words like 'eat' or 'drink' might be better. | Used in everyday conversation. 'Supper' may be more common in some regions, while 'dinner' is universally understood. |
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Frequently asked questions: Consume vs We'll have them for supper
What's the difference between Consume and We'll have them for supper?
Consume: To eat or drink something or to use up something. We'll have them for supper: We will eat them for dinner.
Which is more common: Consume and We'll have them for supper?
Consume is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Consume: We need to consume less energy to help the environment. We'll have them for supper: We'll have them for supper after the meeting.
Can I use Consume and We'll have them for supper interchangeably?
Not always. Consume and We'll have them for supper are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.