Simple explanation
What do have and have got mean? Have and have got usually mean the same thing: to own something or to have a relationship with someone or something. We use them to talk about possessions, family members, and personal information. For example, 'I have a car' and 'I have got a car' both mean that the speaker owns a car. Using have for possession Have is a normal verb in English. It can be used in different tenses. In the present simple, we use have with I, you, we, and they. With he, she, and it, we use has. Using have got Have got is very common in spoken English, especially in British English. It is mainly used to talk about possession in the present. The structure includes have/has and got. The difference between have and have got For present possession, there is usually no difference in meaning. However, have can be used in many tenses, while have got is mainly used for the present.
Grammar formula
Positive with have
Subject + have/has + nounI have a new phone.
Positive with have got
Subject + have/has got + nounShe has got a car.
Negative with have
Subject + do/does not have + nounThey do not have a house.
Question with have got
Have/Has + subject + got + noun?Have you got a brother?
Core rules
- 1
Positive sentences with have
Use have with I, you, we, and they. Use has with he, she, and it.
- 2
Positive sentences with have got
Use have got with I, you, we, and they. Use has got with he, she, and it.
- 3
Negative sentences with have
Use do not have or does not have to make negative sentences.
- 4
Negative sentences with have got
Use have not got or has not got for negative forms.
- 5
Questions with have and have got
Use Do/Does before the subject with have. Put Have/Has at the beginning of questions with have got.
Useful examples
I have a new laptop.
I own a new laptop.
Have shows possession of an object.
She has a small apartment.
She owns a small apartment.
Has is used because the subject is she.
They have got two children.
They have two children.
Have got can describe family relationships.
He has got a blue bike.
He owns a blue bike.
Has got is used with he.
I do not have a car.
I don't own a car.
The negative form of have uses do not.
She has not got a computer.
She doesn't have a computer.
Has not got is the negative form for she.
Have you got a pen?
Do you have a pen?
Have comes before the subject in questions with have got.
Does he have a sister?
Is he someone who has a sister?
Questions with have use does for he, she, and it.
We have a big garden.
We own a large garden.
Have is used with we.
My friend has got a new job.
My friend has a new job.
Have got is common in everyday conversations.
Common mistakes
- ❌ She have a dog. ✅ She has a dog. With he, she, and it, have changes to has.
- ❌ I has got a phone. ✅ I have got a phone. I always uses have, not has.
- ❌ Do you have got a car? ✅ Have you got a car? Questions with have got do not use do.
- ❌ He don't have a bike. ✅ He doesn't have a bike. He needs does not, not do not.
- ❌ I have got a car yesterday. ✅ I had a car yesterday. Have got is normally used for present possession, not past time.
Learning tips
- Remember that have and have got usually mean the same thing for present possession.
- Use has only with he, she, and it.
- Have got is common in everyday speaking.
- Use have for other tenses such as the past or future.
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PlannedRelated grammar
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between have and have got?
For present possession, they usually have the same meaning. The main difference is that have can be used in more tenses.
When do I use has instead of have?
Use has with he, she, and it in the present simple.
Can I use have got in every situation?
No. Have got is mainly used for present possession and is not normally used for other tenses.
Is have got only British English?
Have got is especially common in British English, but it is also understood and used in other varieties of English.