Have and Have Got

  • By Prashant Gill
  • March 5, 2024

A. have and have got (= for possession, relationships, illnesses, appointments etc.)

You can use have or have got. There is no difference in meaning.

You can say:

  1. They have a new car or They've got a new car. 
  2. Lisa has two brothers or Lisa has got two brothers.
  3. I have a headache or I’ve got a headache.
  4. Our house has a small garden or Our house has got a small garden.
  5. He has a few problems or He’s got a few problems.
  6. I have a driving lesson tomorrow or I’ve got a driving lesson tomorrow.

With these meanings (possession etc.), we do not use continuous forms (I’m having etc.):

  1. We’re enjoying our holiday. We have / We’ve got a nice room in the hotel. (not We’re having a nice room)

For the past we use had (usually without got):

  1. Lisa had long hair when she was a child. (not Lisa had got)

B. In questions and negative sentences there are three possible forms: 

Do you have any questions?
or Have you got any questions?
or Have you any questions? (less usual)

Does she have a car?
or Has she got a car?
or Has she a car? (less usual)

I don’t have any questions.
or I haven’t got any questions.
or I haven’t any questions. (less usual)

She doesn’t have a car.
or She hasn’t got a car.
or She hasn’t a car. (less usual)

In past questions and negative sentences, we use did/didn’t:

  1. Did you have a car when you were living in Paris?
  2. I didn’t have my phone, so I couldn’t call you.
  3. Lisa had long hair, didn’t she?

C. have breakfast / have a shower / have a good time etc.

We also use have (but not have got) for things we do or experience. For example:

have

breakfast / dinner / a cup of coffee / something to eat etc.
a bath / a shower / a swim / a break / a rest / a party / a holiday an accident / an experience / a dream
a look (at something)
a chat / a discussion / a conversation (with somebody)
trouble / difficulty / fun / a good time etc.
a baby (= give birth to a baby)

Have got is not possible in these expressions.

Compare:

Sometimes I have (= eat) a sandwich for my lunch. (not I've got)
but I’ve got / I have some sandwiches. Would you like one?

You can use continuous forms (I’m having etc.) with these expressions:

  1. We’re enjoying our holiday. We’re having a great time.
  2. ‘Where’s Mark?’ ‘He’s having a shower.’

In questions and negative sentences, we use do/does/did:

  1. I don’t usually have a big breakfast. (not I usually haven’t)
  2. Where does Chris usually have lunch?
  3. Did you have trouble finding somewhere to stay? (not Had you)

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

B1-B2 Grammar : Have and Have Got

Choose the correct word.

6 items remaining
Which sentence uses "have" correctly?
Identify the sentence with the appropriate use of "have got":
Choose the sentence with the correct usage of "have got":
Which option demonstrates the proper use of "have"?
Select the sentence with the accurate use of "have got":
Which sentence employs "have" correctly?
Finish Try again
Try another grammar lesson

Language Level

A1-A2 Grammar   C1-C2 Grammar   

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