In this blog post, you’ll learn the difference between have and have got, two phrases often used interchangeably in English. Both are used to express possession, but they differ slightly in formality and usage. Understanding when to use each will help you improve your conversational and written English. While “have” is more common in formal writing, “have got” is often used in casual conversations.
Have vs. Have Got
How to Use Have
Have is a causative verb in English.
Positive Sentence:
- S + have/has
Examples:
- I have a new book.
- She has a beautiful garden.
Negative Sentence:
- S + do not (don’t)/does not (doesn’t)+ have
Examples:
- They don’t have any money.
- He doesn’t have time today.
Question Form:
- Do/Does + S + have…?
Examples:
- Do you have a car?
- Does she have any pets?
How to Use Have Got
Positive Sentence:
- S + have got (‘ve got)/has got (‘s got)
Examples:
- I’ve got a new phone.
- She’s got a lot of friends.
Negative Sentence:
- S + have not (haven’t) /has not (hasn’t) + got
Examples:
- They haven’t got any homework.
- He hasn’t got a car.
Question Form:
- Have/Has + S + got…?
Examples:
- Have you got my keys?
- Has she got a dog?
When to Use Have vs. Have Got
1. To talk about the things we possess.
Examples:
- I have/have got a new mobile phone.
- Paul doesn’t have/hasn’t got a car.
2. To talk about our relationships with other people.
Example:
- Jane has/has got a brother.
3. To talk about what we look like.
Example:
- She has/has got blue eyes.
4. To talk about sickness or temporary state.
Examples:
- I have/ I’ve got a cold.
- They have/have got a problem.
Difference Between Have vs. Have Got
1. Use have (not have got) to talk about things we do (meals, holidays…) and with a bath, a shower, or a wash.
Examples:
- I have a cup of coffee at seven o’clock.
- Do you normally have a big breakfast?
- Have a good holiday!
- She’s having a shower at the moment.
- I always have a wash before I go out.
2. We don’t use got in short answers.
Example:
A: Have you got a dog?
B: No, I haven’t.
Have vs. Have Got Infographic
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