Have and Have Got
An A1 guide to "have" vs. "have got" for possession, family, and characteristics — affirmative, negative, and question forms, with the differences between American and British English.
Two Ways to Say “I Possess”
In English, there are two common ways to say that someone possesses or has something:
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
have | I have a car. |
have got | I have got a car. / I've got a car. |
The two forms mean exactly the same thing.
Style:
have gotis more common in British English and in informal speech.haveis more common in American English and in formal writing.
This lesson covers possession, family, and physical descriptions — the most common A1 uses.
Affirmative
With have
Use the base form have for I, you, we, they. Use has for he, she, it.
| Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | have | I have two brothers. |
| he / she / it | has | She has a new bike. |
I have a dog.
We have a big house.
He has brown eyes.
The cat has long fur.
With have got
Same subject rules: have got for I/you/we/they, has got for he/she/it.
| Subject | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | have got | I've got / you've got / we've got / they've got |
| he / she / it | has got | he's got / she's got / it's got |
I've got a dog.
We've got a big house.
He's got brown eyes.
The cat has got long fur.
Note:
he's gotlooks likehe is gotbut actually meanshe has got. Look at context to know which.
Negative
With have
Use do not have / does not have (or contractions don't have / doesn't have).
| Subject | Negative |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | don't have |
| he / she / it | doesn't have |
I don't have a car.
They don't have time.
She doesn't have a phone.
With have got
Add not after have / has. Use contractions haven't got / hasn't got.
| Subject | Negative |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | haven't got |
| he / she / it | hasn't got |
I haven't got a car.
They haven't got time.
She hasn't got a phone.
With have | With have got |
|---|---|
I don't have a car. | I haven't got a car. |
She doesn't have a phone. | She hasn't got a phone. |
We don't have any milk. | We haven't got any milk. |
Questions
With have
Use do / does to make a question.
| Subject | Question |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | Do … have …? |
| he / she / it | Does … have …? |
Do you have a pen?
Does he have a sister?
Do they have any kids?
With have got
Put have / has before the subject — no do/does.
| Subject | Question |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | Have … got …? |
| he / she / it | Has … got …? |
Have you got a pen?
Has he got a sister?
Have they got any kids?
With have | With have got |
|---|---|
Do you have a car? | Have you got a car? |
Does she have time? | Has she got time? |
Short Answers
Do you have a dog? — Yes, I do. / No, I don't.
Have you got a dog? — Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.
What We Use Them For
| Use | have | have got |
|---|---|---|
| Possessions | I have a bike. | I've got a bike. |
| Family | She has two sisters. | She's got two sisters. |
| Physical features | He has blue eyes. | He's got blue eyes. |
| Illnesses | I have a cold. | I've got a cold. |
Important:
have gotis only used for possession-type meanings. For most other uses ofhave, you cannot replace it withhave got. For example:
I have breakfast at 8.✓ —I've got breakfast at 8.✗We had a great time.✓ —We got a great time.✗Let's have a coffee.✓ —Let's get a coffee.(different meaning)
So: have got = “possess”. Other uses of have (eat, take, do something) stay with plain have.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Better | Why |
|---|---|---|
She have a brother. | She has a brother. | Third person singular needs has. |
I no have a car. | I don't have a car. | English uses don't have, not no have. |
Have you a pen? (modern English) | Do you have a pen? / Have you got a pen? | The bare Have you …? is old-fashioned today. |
He has got blue eyes? | Has he got blue eyes? | In have got questions, has comes before the subject. |
I've got a dog, do you? (mismatch) | I've got a dog, have you? | If you ask using have got, answer / continue with have got. |
I've got breakfast at 8. | I have breakfast at 8. | Have got is for possession only. For activities/meals, use plain have. |
I haven't a phone. | I don't have a phone. / I haven't got a phone. | Don’t drop the got from haven't got. |
Practice: Exercises
Choose the correct sentence.
Summary
have and have got both express possession. Most A1 sentences about families, things, and physical features can use either: I have a car. = I've got a car.
For he, she, it, use has or has got.
Negative: don't have / doesn't have OR haven't got / hasn't got.
Questions: with have, use do/does (Do you have…?). With have got, put have first (Have you got…?).
have got is only for possession — for activities (have breakfast, have a shower), use plain have.