Sentence structure: have and have got

In this chapter

• What does it mean?

  have / has means to own or to possess. We use it for things, animals, family and our bodies: I have a brother. Cats have whiskers. has goes only with he / she / it and one person or thing.

• have / has: the American choice

  Positive: She has a bike. · Negative: I don't have a pen. · Question: Do you have a ruler? · Short answer: Yes, I do. / No, she doesn't.

• have and has

  Turkish says “…im var” (there is my…); English puts the owner first: I have.

  Example: I have two cousins.

  Example: My sister has a red bike.

• have got: the same meaning

  In speech it gets shorter: I've got a new backpack. Americans often say this in positive sentences too.

  Example: I have got a new backpack.

  Example: Our class has got a fish tank.

• Same meaning, two ways

  This is the most natural question in American English.

  Example: Do you have a pencil?

  Example: Have you got a pencil?

• Tip

  Don't mix the pairs: do goes with have, and have goes with got. Do you have a pet? is correct. Have you got a pet? is correct. “Do you have got a pet?” is wrong.