How to Use Have and Have Got

Hanging out
Have you got / Do you have time for lunch?. Gary Burchell/Getty Images
By
Kenneth Beare
Kenneth Beare
English as a Second Language (ESL) Expert
  • TESOL Diploma, Trinity College London
  • M.A., Music Performance, Cologne University of Music
  • B.A., Vocal Performance, Eastman School of Music
Kenneth Beare is an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and course developer with over three decades of teaching experience.
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Updated on October 11, 2018

Students of English will eventually both 'have' and 'have got' to express possession. Both forms can express what we own, but also the relationships we have. For example, I have / have got a car and a father. Beginning level students should also know that 'have' is preferred in US English, and 'have got' is much more common in British English. Finally, the fact that US English often uses 'gotten' as the participle for various verbs including phrasal verbs with get, but will also use 'have got' when expressing possession can further confuse students. This guide provides examples of the various uses of both forms.

The differences between 'have' and 'have got' can be confusing for beginners. Here is a guide the two forms. When you finish reviewing, try the quiz to check your understanding.

Remember these important points:

  • 'Have' and 'Have got' are used for possession.Example: Jack has got a beautiful house. OR Jack has a beautiful house.
  • Only 'have' is used when talking about actions.Example: I usually have breakfast at 8 o'clock. NOT I usually have got breakfast at 8 o'clock.
  • The question form for 'have' follows regular present simple:Example: Do you have a fast car? NOT Have you a fast car?
  • 'Have' and 'Have got' are only used in the present simple. Use 'have' for the past simple or future forms.Example: She had a copy of that book.
  • There is no contracted form for 'Have' in the positive form. The contracted form is used for 'have got'Example: I have a red bicycle. OR I've got a red bicycle. NOT I've a red bicycle.

Here is a grammar chart showing the construction of the two forms:

Forms With 'Have Got'

'Have got' is used both British and American English but is more common in British English. Note that 'have got' is used for possession in American English, but that 'gotten' is used for as the past participle for other uses of 'get'.

Subject Positive Form Negative Form Question Form
I, You, We, They

Subject + have + got + objects -> contracted form: 've got

They have got a new car.
I've got a number of friends in Los Angeles.

Subject + have + not + got + objects -> contracted form: haven't got

We have not got a dog.
They haven't got time to meet today.

(? word) + have + subject + got?

How many children have you got?
Have we got enough time today?
He, She, It

Subject + has + got + objects -> contracted form: 's got

He has got a new car.
It's got red stripes and yellow stars.

Subject + has + not + got + objects -> contracted form: hasn't got

She has not got a dog.
It hasn't got any spots on it

(? word) + has + subject + got?

How many children has he got?
Has it got any gas in the tank?

Forms With 'Have'

'Have' is more common in American English when speaking about possession. However, 'have got', as mentioned before, is also used in American English for possession. 

Subject Positive Form Negative Form Question Form
I, You, We, They

Subject + have + objects -> no contracted form

They have a new car.
We have classes on Friday.

Subject + do + not + have + objects -> contracted form: don't have

They do not have a dog.
We don't have time for lunch now.

(? word) + do + subject + have?

How many children do you have?
Do we have any pasta left?
He, She, It

Subject + have + objects -> no contracted form

She has a new car.
He has three children.

Subject + does + not + have + objects -> contracted form: doesn't have

She does not have a dog.
He doesn't have any friends in town.

(? word) + does + subject + have?

How many children does he have?
Does she have a vacation this month?

Note: Sometimes the irregular form 'Have you a car/house/etc.' is used in antiquated (older) forms of British English

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Beare, Kenneth. "How to Use Have and Have Got." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/have-and-have-got-for-beginners-1208968. Beare, Kenneth. (2020, August 27). How to Use Have and Have Got. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/have-and-have-got-for-beginners-1208968 Beare, Kenneth. "How to Use Have and Have Got." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/have-and-have-got-for-beginners-1208968 (accessed March 21, 2023).