017 : have and have got

   A   

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. (possession)
• Lisa has two brothers.  or  Lisa's got two brothers. (relationship)
• I have a headache.  or  I've got a headache. (illness)
• 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)

 

 

   B   

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?

 

 

   C   

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?

 

 

 

 

 (American English -> Appendix 7) 

 

17C

British speakers usually say: have a bath       have a shower       have a break       have a holiday

American  speakers say: take a bath        take a shower        take a break        take a vacation

 

 

17A

BRITISH The past participle of get is got: Your English has got much better. (= has become much better) Have got is also an alternative to have: I've got two brothers. (= I have two brothers.)

AMERICAN  The past participle of get is gotten: Your English has gotten much better. Have got = have (as in British English): I've got two brothers.