noun
1
BAD : After the breakfast, we went shopping.
GOOD : After breakfast, we went shopping.
BAD : Before my breakfast I usually go for a run.
GOOD : Before breakfast I usually go for a run.
◆◆◆
When breakfast/lunch/dinner etc refer to an event (rather than to the meal itself), they are used without a/the/this/my etc: 'What shall we do after lunch?' 'Pam and Simon have invited us to dinner.' 'What time do you have breakfast?'
You use a/the/this/my etc when you refer to the meal itself: 'We enjoyed the evening, even though the dinner was cold.' 'I don't usually have time for a cooked breakfast.'
2
BAD : Before I have a breakfast, I usually make my bed.
GOOD : Before I have (my) breakfast, I usually make my bed.
BAD : Every morning my first job is to prepare a breakfast.
GOOD : Every morning my first job is to prepare (the) breakfast.
◆◆◆
have (your) breakfast/lunch/dinner etc (NOT a ): 'Have you had (your) breakfast yet?'
make/prepare (the/your) breakfast/lunch/dinner etc (NOT a ): 'Whose turn is it to make the dinner tonight?'
Use a/an with breakfast/lunch/dinner etc only when you describe the meal: 'a cooked breakfast', 'a big breakfast', 'an American breakfast'.
3
BAD : There wasn't enough time to eat breakfast.
GOOD : There wasn't enough time to have breakfast.
BAD : While I am taking breakfast, I listen to the radio.
GOOD : While I am having breakfast, I listen to the radio.
◆◆◆
have (your) breakfast/lunch/dinner etc (NOT eat/take): 'We had dinner in the hotel restaurant.'
have sth for breakfast/lunch/dinner etc: 'What did you have for lunch?'
Do not use eat unless you wish to emphasize the activity of eating. Compare: 'We prefer to have dinner in the evening.' 'James always takes a long time to eat his dinner.'