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 ~?

or

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

or

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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