Table of Contents

To have / have got

Introduction

Image                 Image

They have two dogs.           They've got three children. 


Definition

Have and have got are verbs with the same meaning. You can choose which one to use. 

Have got is usually abbreviated to 've got.


Construction

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I have

 

I don't have

Do I have?

You have

 

You don't have

Do you have?

He/she/it has

 

He/she/it doesn't have

Does he/she/it have?

We have

 

We don't have

Do we have?

They have

 

They don't have

Do they have?


 

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

I've got

 

I haven't got

Have I got?

You've got

You haven't  got

Have you got?

 

He/she/it's got

 

He/she/it hasn't got

Has he/she/it got?

We've got

 

We haven't got

Have we got?

They've got

 

They haven't got

Have they got?


Uses

 

We use have or have got to talk about possession, relationships, illnesses etc:

 

I have two children          I've got two children.

I have a good job             I've got a good job.

I have a new car         =       I've got a new car.

I have a problem              I've got a problem.

I have a headache            I've got a headache.

 

We also use have to talk about some actions and experiences but we can't use have got for these:

 

She has lunch at 12.30.   Image                                  She's got lunch at 12.30. Image

 

They have a meeting every Friday. Image                 They've got a meeting every Friday. Image

 

We have a good time on holiday. Image                    We've got a good time on holiday.  Image

 

She always has a party at Christmas. Image              She's always got a party at Christmas.  Image

 

They usually have a coffee break at 10.00.  Image     They've usually got a coffee break at 10.00. Image

 

I have a shower every morning. Image                      I've got a shower every morning.  Image



Note: It is important to be consistent.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?   Yes, I do.  I have one brother and one sister.

 

Have you got any pets?  Yes, I have.  I've got a cat and a bird.



Examples

 
Image   

How many cats do Anne and Frank have?

They have two cats. They also have three dogs, two goldfish, a parrot and a lizard!  


Image       Do you have an iphone?   No, I don't.

ill sick malade cold rhume   Has Steve got a cold?   Yes, he has.