Monthly Archives: February 2013

have (possession)

Grammar Basics: Unit 59 – Have

Posted on 2013/02/26

The verb “have” is used to show possession. In this usage, it is interchangeable with “have got”.

Pattern:

I have (something) / I have got (something) / I’ve got (something)
You have ~ / You have got ~ / You’ve got ~
He / She / It has ~ // He has got / She has got / It has got ~ // He’s got / She’s got / It’s got ~
We have ~ / We have got ~ / We’ve got ~
They have ~ / They have got ~ / They’ve got ~

Examples:

I have 500 books in my personal library. // I have got (I’ve got) 500 books….
My brother has a new job. // My brother has got a new job. // My brother’s got a new job.
We have tickets for next week’s game. // We’ve got tickets for next week’s game.
You’d better be quiet – Mom has a headache. // You’d better be quiet – Mom’s got a headache.

Question form:

Do I (you, we, they) have ~ ? / Does he (she, it) have ~?

Have I (you, we, they) got ~ ? / Has he (she, it) got ~?

Examples:

Do you have a moment? // Have you got a moment?
Does Joe have a red car? // Has Joe got a red car?
Do they have any newspapers? // Have they got any newspapers?

Negative:

do not have / don’t have // does not have / doesn’t have

have not got / haven’t got // has not got / hasn’t got

Examples:

We don’t have any bananas. // We haven’t got any bananas.
Mr. Smith doesn’t have a clue what to do. // Mr. Smith hasn’t got a clue what to do.
I don’t have any patience for yappy dogs. // I haven’t got any patience for yappy dogs.

Past tense: had
Negative past: didn’t have

Examples:

I had the measles when I was in fifth grade.
We had a good time on vacation.
Jack had a pony when he was little.
He didn’t have his wallet with him.
They didn’t have enough money to buy a new car.
You didn’t have Mrs. Nelson for English, did you?

Note: The past tense does NOT use “got” at all!

Also, some set phrases do NOT use “got”:

have breakfast / lunch / dinner / a snack / a soda / something to eat or drink, etc.:

Every Saturday morning we have waffles.
Do you want to have something to eat after the movie?

have a baby:

Mrs. Smith’s going to have a baby next fall.

have a (good, bad) dream:

I had a bad dream last night.

have a good time:

If you go to Yellowstone, I’m sure you’ll have a good time.

have a good trip:

Did you have a good trip when you went to Europe?

have a nice / good / bad day:

Be sure to tell each customer to have a nice day.

have a party:

They had a going-away party for Jack on his last day of work.

have a vacation / days off:

We won’t have a vacation until July.

have an accident:

Mike had an accident on his way to work last Tuesday.

have an argument:

It seems like the Browns have an argument almost every week.

have fun:

Study hard, but don’t forget to have fun!

Exercises. Complete the sentences, using the correct form of have / have got.

Example:

______________ a dozen potholders to sell at the bazaar. (I / have) ==> I have (got) a dozen potholders to sell at the bazaar.

1.   ______________ enough money for movie tickets. (They / have / not)
2.   ______________ short hair and a blue T-shirt in that old picture. (John / have)
3.   Mary isn’t coming in to work today. ______________ a cold. (She / have)
4.   ______________ a secret, and I promised not to tell anyone what it is. (I / have)
5.   If ______________ a key, you can call me at the office and I will come and let you in. (you / have / not)
6.   ______________ too many toys. We’re going to donate some to charity. (You kids / have)
7.   ______________ has a wonderful sense of humor. (Mr. Smith / have)
8.   Mr. Jones won’t hire a secretary ______________ a good work ethic. (who / have / not)
9.   I’d love to stay and chat, but ______________ time this afternoon. (I / have / not)
10.   ______________ any space in the trunk for my backpack? (you / have)

Exercises. Complete the sentences, using the correct form of have and a phrase from the list.

Example:

We ______________ last night. (a bad storm) ==> We had a bad storm last night.

a bad day
a car accident
a good flight
a good time
a nice trip
a sandwich
an argument
her baby
some cake
something to drink

1.   You can ______________ if you’re still hungry.
2.   It’s very hot out, and I’m thirsty. Do you ______________?
3.   Don’t bother Mr. Black. He’s ______________.
4.   The boys ______________ at the ballpark.
5.   Could I ______________ for dessert?
6.   Believe it or not, my father has never ______________.
7.   Grandmother and Grandfather were married for over sixty years, and they never ______________.
8.   Did Jack’s wife ______________ yet?
9.   Welcome to Hawaii. Did you ______________?
10.   I hope the newlyweds ______________ for their honeymoon.

Exercises. Describe what these people are doing, using the correct form of have with a phrase from the list.

Example:

(a picnic) ==> They’re having a picnic.

a birthday
a cup of coffee
a glass of milk
a good time
a physical
a snack
fun

1. She’s _________

2. They’re _____________

3. He’s _____________

4. She’s _____________

5. They’re _____________

6. She’s _____________

7. The baby’s _____________

have (possession)

Crossword – Irregular Verbs 13 (Solution)

Posted on 2013/02/25

Crossword – Irregular Verbs 13

Posted on 2013/02/24

Across
1 Grandmother was (upset) with Uncle Rich because he didn’t send her a letter. (5)
4 The eloping couple (leave) in the middle of the night. (4)
6 Unfortunately, that wasn’t the first time the children (misunderstand) the teacher’s instructions. (13)
9 I (think) Jack was on vacation this week. (7)
11 In the Depression, Grandmother had (forego) supper herself many a time so her children would not have to go to bed hungry. (8)
14 Maxine behaves just like a (spoil) brat. (6)
16 The clock doesn’t work anymore because somebody (wind) it too much. (5)
17 The boss was pleased with Mary’s department because they (underspend) all other departments in our division. (10)
19 The host was embarrassed to learn he had (run) out of wine. (3)
20 We were (wake) up at four in the morning by the birds singing before the dawn. (5)
21 Tight pants are a sure sign that you have (overeat). (9)
23 Susan (cling) to the doctor’s every word, and never gave up hope for a recovery. (5)
25 The program is to be (telecast) next Sunday night at 7 p.m. (8)
26 I’ve never seen such an intricately (weave) pattern. (5)
27 He’s (dig) his own grave by nursing his desire for revenge. (3)
28 I’ve (keep) my promise; have you? (4)
29 The boys (sing) as loud as they could to embarrass the teacher. (4)

Down
2 How is your last name (spell)? (5)
3 The experimental aircraft was (test-fly) between Oshkosh and Rhinelander. (4-5)
5 Even a fool could have (foresee) that asking Danny to babysit was going to be a disaster. (8)
6 As I was going to St. Ives, I (meet) a man with seven wives. (3)
7 Mr. Smith (shake) my hand so vigorously I thought it was going to fall off. (5)
8 After the military (overthrow) the dictator, it was a dangerous time for our country. (9)
10 In talking to him I (get) the idea he wants to go in business for himself. (3)
12 She’s definitely an (outspeak) lady, and someone who is not easily deterred. (9)
13 Will you please tell the jury exactly what you (see)? (3)
15 As part of his initiation, the pledge (undergo) a humiliating hazing. (9)
17 Without being asked, my brother and I (undertake) the spring cleaning for Mother this year. (9)
18 Our neighbor (do) not mow his lawn all summer. (3)
19 The trip to her hometown had only (reawake) bad feelings about her former classmates. (8)
21 Rick lost his chance to buy the antique when another broker (outbid) him on it. (6)
22 The teacher (mean) to give the class an extra week to study for the big test. (5)
23 Mother was horrified to see that Timmy had (cut) the baby’s hair with some kiddie scissors he had found. (3)
24 With Bud, it’s a (give) that there will be no leftover pie – apple is his favorite. (5)
26 The river (be) frozen all the way across due to the cold spell we’ve had this past week. (3)

Idiom Focus: Common English Idioms 15

Posted on 2013/02/23

Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words. Currently, we’re looking at some common English idioms.

in the black: make a profit, have a positive bank balance

Example:

Thanks to everyone’s hard work this fourth quarter, our company ended this fiscal year in the black.

in the nick of time: at the last minute, without any time to spare

Example:

Superman saved Lois Lane from the fiery space aliens in the nick of time.

Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 36 (Solution)

Posted on 2013/02/18

Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 36

Posted on 2013/02/17

Across
1 Big boat for sailing the ocean (4)
3 Building for learning (6)
6 Restaurant worker (6)
8 Daughter of a king (8)
9 Free from danger (4)
11 Therefore (2)
12 Discipline for someone who does something wrong (10)
13 A word used when talking about something that might happen or be true, or might have happened (2)
15 Street (4)
16 A statement that is not strong enough to express how good, bad, etc something really is (14)
18 Opposite of “begin” (3)
19 Worked against something someone was trying to do (10)
21 One time (4)
22 Rope (4)
24 Opposite of “something” (7)
25 Overweight (3)
27 Years old (3)
28 ____ , did, done (2)
30 Frozen water (3)
32 Place for swimming (4)
34 Some organs, like the appendix (9)
37 Conjunction used for comparing two things (2)
38 The act of making something stronger (13)

Down
1 When someone or something is replaced by someone or something else (12)
2 Tube used for moving water (4)
3 Something that stimulates (8)
4 Exaggeration (13)
5 Top quality (5-4)
7 Ash or fine powder (7)
10 Agent (14)
14 Often (8)
17 A, an, ____ (3)
20 Precise information (6)
22 Scientist who studies chemicals (7)
23 Color of a strawberry (3)
26 Fall fruit (5)
29 Preposition (2)
31 Always (4)
33 Possess (3)
35 Look (3)
36 To move or develop more slowly than others (3)

Idiom Focus: Common English Idioms 14

Posted on 2013/02/16

How come?: Why?

Example:

How come Jessie wasn’t at Linda’s party? I thought they were best friends.

in ages: for a very long time

Example:

I haven’t had lemon meringue pie in ages.

Crossword – TOEFL 10 (Solution)

Posted on 2013/02/11

Crossword – TOEFL 10

Posted on 2013/02/10

Across
1 Obscene or indecent (4)
6 Impossible to satisfy (10)
8 Performed with a natural, offhand ease (4)
10 Angry or threatening behavior or feelings that often result in fighting (10)
11 Fearless (8)
15 Luxurious (7)
16 Judge, evaluate (8)
17 Juicy (9)
18 Distort (4)
19 To appropriate dishonestly for one’s own use; embezzle (14)
21 Not employed or busy (4)
23 To strive for victory or supremacy; contend (3)
25 A beginner (4)
26 Deep distress or misery, as from grief; wretchedness (3)
28 Harmful (7)
29 Likely (3)
30 Move from side to side or up and down, especially rapidly and repeatedly (3)
31 Lacking in brightness (3)

Down
1 Fail to keep up (3)
2 Mournful cry (4)
3 Swing loosely (6)
4 Colorful and quickly changing (13)
5 Your face or expression (11)
7 To give or send out (4)
8 Space (3)
9 Prohibit (3)
11 A curse (11)
12 Repay (9)
13 Too bold or self-confident (12)
14 Increasing gradually as more is added, or something happens (10)
16 Attack someone or something (6)
20 Stocky (5)
22 Careless (3)
24 A period of time characterized by particular circumstances (3)
25 To draw or pull behind by a chain or line (3)
27 Strange, peculiar (3)