The verb have got is one of the basic structures in English and is usually learned from the very beginning. It is used mainly to express possession, and it is an important part of everyday communication.
You can use it to say things like:
- I have got a car.
- You have got two mobile phones.
- We have got 70 euros.
In this lesson, you will learn the affirmative, negative, interrogative, and contracted forms of have got, along with its main uses in English.
What Does "Have Got" Mean?
The verb have got is commonly used to show possession, especially in the present simple. It is very common in British English, while have is often preferred in American English.
Examples:
- I have got a car. → I have a car.
- She has got a new job.
- Have you got any siblings? → Do you have any brothers or sisters?
- We haven't got much time. → We don't have much time.
Both have and have got are correct, and in many cases they can be used in the same way. However, have got is usually more informal.
Have or Have Got?
The difference between have and have got is mostly a matter of style.
- Have got is more common in informal British English.
- Have is more common in American English and is also more formal.
For example:
- I've got a new phone.
- I have a new phone.
Both sentences mean the same thing. In the first one, got can add a slightly stronger sense of having acquired something.
When to Use "Have Got"
We usually use have got to talk about:
- Possession of objects.
- I've got a new car.
- They've got two cats and a dog.
- Physical characteristics or personal features.
- He's got blue eyes.
- She's got long hair.
- Health conditions.
- I've got a headache.
- She's got a sore throat.
- Family relationships.
- I've got two brothers.
- They've got three children.
- Obligation, especially in informal British English.
- I've got to finish this report by tomorrow.
- She's got to pick up her kids from school.
Negative Form
To make the negative, add not after have or has.
Examples:
- I haven't got
- You haven't got
- He hasn't got
- We haven't got
- They haven't got
The contracted form is much more natural in everyday English:
- I haven't got a car.
- She hasn't got any money.
- We haven't got much time.
Interrogative Form
To make a question with have got, put have or has at the beginning of the sentence.
Examples:
- Have I got your attention?
- Has she got a pen?
- Have you got any plans for the weekend?
- Have we got enough food for the party?
- Have they got tickets to the concert?
You can also form negative questions:
- Haven't you got anything better to do?
Final Note
Have got is a very useful structure for expressing possession, characteristics, health, relationships, and obligations. If you learn its affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms, you will be able to use it naturally in many everyday situations.
