linguaholic Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I am always confused about the use of have/take when it comes to the nouns shower/bath.Could someone please explain the correct use with those? Is it to have/take a shower and is it to have/take a bath? :wacky: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Hard Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Both are grammatically correct but it's customary for Americans to use take a bath/take a shower while Brits and all users of Brit English prefer have a bath/have a shower. Usage therefore depends on the dialect of English you're using at a particular time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linguaholic Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 That pretty much answers my question. Thank you! Thank you for clearing things up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sos Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 its to have a bath because the water is somewhat quantified in the bath-tub but when it comes to shower it's taking a shower since the water is infinite :grin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qaximor Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 I don't know what is grammatically correct but what sounds good in my ears is Take a bath and Take a shower. I never heard someone saying having a shower, but I have heard "having a bath". It doesn't matter really it makes sense both ways haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caparica007 Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 It's pretty confusing to me, it's probably like Denis says, American or British ways of speaking. If I would say it though, I'd say take a bath or shower and not have a bath or shower, maybe is the influence of the American TV shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silv31 Posted February 21, 2014 Report Share Posted February 21, 2014 It's the exact same thing. You don't have to feel confused. Both of them are grammatically correct and both are acceptable. According to what I've noticed, Americans use "take" a bath and "take" a shower, while us Europeans prefer using "have" a bath and "have" a shower. I hope I helped a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apexa1 Posted February 22, 2014 Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 Yeah either is fine, it depends really on where you're referring to. In australia we use take a bath/shower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemwaf Posted February 22, 2014 Report Share Posted February 22, 2014 Taking a bath is the phrase that i would go with as to me it seems to be more grammatically correct than having one. I would say that having one would most likely implying that you probably bought one or something along those lines or owning one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misty1987 Posted March 8, 2014 Report Share Posted March 8, 2014 As others have said, I think both are grammatically correct. Im a british girl and I would say "to have a bath" but "to take a shower". Guess it's a case of personal preference on what sounds right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justusforus Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 I enjoyed reading all the comments, but it seems to me that they all are "correct" and are a matter of preference and regional use. I would not be concerned with the usage since I think all the forms mentioned would convey the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgreenwood Posted March 9, 2014 Report Share Posted March 9, 2014 When you say "have", it implies the possession of something. So when you say " have a shower or bath", it sounds like you own a shower or bath. When you say "take", that is more of an action word. You are taking a bath or shower, rather than possessing it. On the other hand, take could also sound like you are stealing the bath or shower.... :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xbrix Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 It's mostly said to take a bath, or to take a shower. For example, can I take a shower? But you will also sometimes heard it said as to have a shower or to have a bath. For example, can I have a shower? It doesn't sound very good to me, but it is grammatically correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorannmwin Posted March 10, 2014 Report Share Posted March 10, 2014 I don't know if it is completely proper, but the only way that I've ever heard anyone say it is "take a shower" or "take a bath." The only time that I've ever heard "have" in context with bathing would be "I have to shower/bathe." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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