Unit 17: Have and have got

English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 17: Have and have got

Have and have got (= for possession, relationships, illnesses etc.)

You can use have or have got. There is no difference in meaning:

They have a new car. or They've got a new car.
Lisa has two brothers. or Lisa's got two brothers.
I have a headache. or I've got a headache.
Our house has a small garden. or Our house has got a small garden.
He has a few problems. or He's got a few problems.

With these meanings (possession etc.), you cannot use continuous forms (am having etc.):

We're enjoying our holiday. We have / We've got a nice room in the hotel. (not We're having a nice room)

For the past we use had (without got):

Lisa had long hair when she was a child. (not Lisa had got)

In questions and negative sentences there are three possible forms:

Do you have any questions?	I don't have any questions.
Have you got any questions?	I haven't got any questions.
Have you any questions? (less usual)	I haven't any questions. (less usual)
Does she have a car?	She doesn't have a car.
Has she got a car?	She hasn't got a car.
Has she a car? (less usual)	She hasn't a car. (less usual)

In past questions and negative sentences we use did/didn't:

Did you have a car when you were living in Paris?
I didn't have my phone, so I couldn't call you.
Lisa had long hair, didn't she?

Have breakfast / have a shower / have a good time etc.

We also use have (but not have got) for many actions and experiences. For example:

have

breakfast / dinner / a cup of coffee / something to eat etc.
a bath / a shower / a swim / a break / a rest / a party / a holiday an accident / an experience / a dream
a look (at something)
a chat / a conversation / a discussion (with somebody)
trouble / difficulty / fun / a good time etc.
a baby (= give birth to a baby)

Have got is not possible in the expressions in the box. Compare:

Sometimes I have (= eat) a sandwich for my lunch. (not I've got)
but I've got / I have some sandwiches. Would you like one?

You can use continuous forms (am having etc.) with the expressions in the box:

We're enjoying our holiday. We're having a great time. (not We have)
Mark is having a shower at the moment. He has a shower every day.

In questions and negative sentences we use do/does/did:

I don't usually have a big breakfast. (not I usually haven't)
What time does Chris have lunch? (not has Chris lunch)
Did you have trouble finding a place to live?

17.1 Write negative sentences with have. Some are present and some are past.

I can't get into the house.
(a key) .
I couldn't read the letter.
(my glasses) .
I can't get onto the roof.
(a ladder) I __________ .
We couldn't visit the museum.
(enough time) We __________ .
He couldn't find his way to our house.
(a map) __________ .
She can't pay her bills.
(any money) __________ .
I can't go swimming today.
(enough energy) __________ .
They couldn't take any pictures.
(a camera) __________ .

17.2 Which alternatives are correct? Sometimes two alternatives are possible, sometimes only one.

Excuse me, ....... a pen I could borrow?
- A. have you got
- B. are you having
- C. do you have
....... time to go to the bank yesterday?
- A. Had you got
- B. Did you have
- C. Had you
I need a stamp for this letter. ....... one?
- A. Do you have
- B. Are you having
- C. Have you got
What does jack do? ....... a job?
- A. Does he have
- B. Is he having
- C. Has he got
....... a lot of friends when you were a child?
- A. Did you have
- B. Were you having
- C. Had you
When you worked in your last job, ....... your own office?
- A. had you
- B. have you got
- C. did you have

17.3 Are the underlined verbs OK? Change them where necessary.

_____ Is there anything you want to ask? Do you have any questions?
__________
_____ Lisa had got long hair when she was a child.
__________
_____ Tom couldn't contact us because he hadn't our number.
__________
_____ 'Are you feeling OK?' 'No, I'm having a toothache.'
__________
_____ Are you enjoying yourself? Are you having a good time?
__________
_____ It started to rain. I got wet because I hadn't an umbrella.
__________
_____ Will can't drive. He doesn't have a driving licence.
__________
_____ Did your trip go OK? Had you any problems?
__________
_____ My friend called me when I was having breakfast.
__________

17.4 Complete the sentences. Use an expression from the list with have in the correct form.

have a baby
have a break
have a chat
have trouble
have a good flight
have a look
~~have lunch~~
have a party
have a nice time
have a shower

I don't eat much during the day. I never .
David starts work at 8 o'clock and __________ at 10.30.
We __________ last week. It was great - we invited lots of people.
Excuse me, can I __________ at your newspaper, please?
Jim is away on holiday at the moment. I hope he __________ .
I met Ann in the supermarket yesterday. We stopped and __________ .
A: __________ finding the book you wanted ?
B: No, I found it OK.
Suzanne __________ a few weeks ago. It's her second child.
A: Why didn't you answer the phone?
B: I __________ .
You meet your friend Sally at the airport. She has just arrived. You say:
Hi, Sally. How are you? __________ ?

Answer Key

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