Grammar · Commonly Confused Words
Have Luck → Be Lucky
Do not say “I have luck”. Say “I am lucky”. Learn it with the film Brave.
Grammar › Commonly Confused Words › Have Luck → Be Lucky
The rule in one sentenceSay I am lucky, not “I have luck”; use luck only with a word before it, like good luck.
About the film
Brave is a film from 2012. Merida is a princess in Scotland, long ago. She is lucky: she has a fast horse called Angus. Her three little brothers wish her good luck with her bow and arrow.
What is the difference?
In many languages, you say “I have luck”. In English, that sounds strange. We say I am lucky.
Lucky is a describing word, like happy or tall. It goes with be: is, are, was, were.
Luck is a thing-word, like money or time. It needs a word before it: good luck, bad luck, no luck.
Here are the two words side by side:
With lucky, people say the short form of be:
Merida is lucky. (be + lucky) Merida has good luck. (good + luck)
Both are fine. But “Merida has luck” is not. Use “be lucky” first. It is the most common.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
lucky with be
Merida is lucky.
Merida isn’t lucky today.
isn’t / aren’t / wasn’t / weren’t + luckyIs Merida lucky?
Is / Are / Was / Were + person + lucky?luck as a thing-word
Merida has good luck.
Merida has no luck with the spell.
no luck / bad luckAny luck, Merida?
Any luck? = Did it work?When to use each one
Lucky — say what a person is like
Luck — a thing you have or wish
Words that help: lucky or luck?
Some words go with one, not the other.
lucky → a describing word
luck → a thing-word
Common mistakes
❌ Merida has luck. She has a fast horse.
✅ Merida is lucky. She has a fast horse.
“Has luck” is not natural. Use be + lucky.
❌ The brothers are luck.
✅ The brothers are lucky.
After “are”, you need the describing word: lucky.
❌ Merida has good lucky with her bow.
✅ Merida has good luck with her bow.
After “good”, you need the thing-word: luck.
❌ Have luck, Merida!
✅ Good luck, Merida!
To wish someone well, say “Good luck!” No verb.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
“Any luck?” This is one time when have and luck go together. It means “Did it work?”
✅ “Did you find the witch? Any luck?” “No, I had no luck. The forest is too big.”
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one answer. You get the answer, and why.
1. Merida ___. She has a fast horse.
“Has luck” is not natural → is lucky.
2. “Good ___, Merida!” say her brothers.
After “good”, use the thing-word → luck.
3. King Fergus was ___. The bear did not kill him.
After “was”, use the describing word → lucky.
4. Merida has ___ with the spell. Her mother is still a bear.
After “no”, use the thing-word → no luck.
5. The three brothers ___.
Lucky goes with be → are lucky.
6. “Did you find the witch? Any ___?”
“Any luck?” is a set phrase → luck.
7. Angus is a ___ horse. Merida loves him.
Before a thing-word like “horse”, use lucky.
8. Merida is very ___. Her family is safe.
After “very”, use the describing word → lucky.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every ending here is correct. Pick the one you like. Say it out loud too!
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