have / has: Do you have…?

Rules

• Rule 1: I / you / we / they → have

  Use have with I, you, we, they and plural nouns (my friends, birds).

  Pattern: I / you / we / they + have

  Example: We have a small garden.

  Example: Ducks have orange feet.

• Rule 2: he / she / it → has

  Use has with he, she, it and singular nouns (my mom, the dog, Elif). It's like the present simple -s: have → has.

  Pattern: he / she / it + has

  Example: My uncle has a boat.

  Example: The rabbit has long ears.

• Rule 3: Negative → don't / doesn't have

  Use don't (I/you/we/they) or doesn't (he/she/it). After doesn't, the verb is have, not has! (The -s is already in doesn't.)

  Pattern: I / you / we / they + don't have · he / she / it + doesn't have

  Example: I don't have a tablet.

  Example: Leo doesn't have a brother.

• Rule 4: Question → Do / Does … have?

  Questions start with Do or Does, and the verb is have. In short answers we use do / does, not have.

  Pattern: Do you have…? — Yes, I do. / No, I don't. · Does she have…? — Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.

  Example: Do you have a map? — Yes, I do.

  Example: Does Emma have a pet? — No, she doesn't.

Common mistakes

• She doesn't has a bike. → She doesn't have a bike.

  After doesn't → have.

• Do you have a pen? — Yes, I have. → Do you have a pen? — Yes, I do.

  A Do question gets a short answer with do.

• I have ten years. → I am ten (years old).

  For age we use be, not have.