Have and Have got

UNIT 23 Have and have got

A.   Have/has/had = possess, but we also use have for other things (for example, family
relationships):

• We have a new car.

• I have a brother and two sisters.

• Tom has a headache/a cold/the flu/etc.

• When she was a child, she had long blonde hair.

In questions use do/does/ did:

• How many brothers and sisters do you have?

• Does Ann have a car?

• Did you have a car when you lived in California? (not had you a car)

In negative sentences use don't/doesn't/didn't:

• I don't have any money.

• Ann doesn't have any brothers or sisters.

• I wanted to call you, but I didn't have your number. (not I hadn't your number)

• He didn't have a watch, so he didn't know what time it was.                        

B.   Have got/has got
You can use have got/has got rather than have/has alone:

• We've got a new car. (= We have a new car.)

• Tom has got a headache (= Tom has a headache)

The question and negative forms are:

• Have you got a headache? (= do you have)

• Has she got any brothers or sisters (= does she have)

• I haven't got any money. (= I don't have)

• Ann hasn't got a car. (= Ann doesn't have)

But don't use got for the past:

• When she was a child, she had long blonde hair (not she had got)

C.   Have for actions.
We also use have for a number of actions (especially eating and drinking):

have breakfast/ lunch/ dinner/ a meal/ a cup of coffee/ a cigarette/ etc

have a good time/ a nice day/ etc.                                              have a party (= give a party)

have a look (at something)                                                           have a baby (=give birth to a baby)

(You cannot use have got in these expressions.)

• I always have a big breakfast in the morning. (not have got)

• Did you have a good time last night?

• We're having a party on Saturday. Would you like to come?

• What time does Ann usually have lunch?