Have and Have Got
I can describe possessions using have or have got without mixing their question patterns.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
Ben has a bicycle. Jo has got a bicycle too. Their sentences describe the same kind of possession.
Read the situation transcript
Ben has a bicycle. Jo has got a bicycle too. Their sentences describe the same kind of possession.
Do has and has got describe different possessions here?
Compare your idea
No. Both say that the person owns a bicycle.
How it works
For present possession, I have a bag and I have got a bag have the same basic meaning. With he, she and it, use has or has got.
Keep each pattern together: Do you have…? / I don’t have…; Have you got…? / I haven’t got…. Do not put do before have got in this pattern.
I/you/we/they have (got); he/she/it has (got). Do you have…? Have you got…?
Notice this
I have a bicycle.
I own a bicycle.
Compare this
I’ve got a bicycle.
This also describes present possession.
Hear the examples
I have a bicycle.
I own a bicycle.
I’ve got a bicycle.
This also describes present possession.
She doesn’t have a car.
This is the negative with ordinary have.
Has he got a key?
This is the question with have got.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: Do you have got a pen?
Say: Have you got a pen?
Use Have you got…? or Do you have…?, not a mixture.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Say one thing you own in two ways.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I have a camera. I’ve got a camera.
Check yourself: Keep the object the same.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Ask a friend about a pen using have got.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
Have you got a pen?
Check yourself: Put have before you.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Say that your friend has no car using ordinary have.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
She doesn’t have a car.
Check yourself: After doesn’t, use have, not has.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Change to have got: We have two keys.
Compare a model and explanation
We’ve got two keys.
We have got is also correct.
Self-check 2
Complete with ordinary have: ___ she ___ a laptop?
Compare a model and explanation
Does she have a laptop?
Use does with she and the base form have.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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He ___ got a red bag.
has: He takes has in the have got pattern.
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We ___ two chairs.
have: We takes have for present possession.
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Choose a correct question.
Do they have a car?: Ordinary have uses do; have got uses Have they got…?.
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Choose the same possession meaning as “I have a key.”
I’ve got a key.: Have got describes possession here.
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Complete: She doesn’t ___ a bike.
have: After doesn’t, use the base form have.
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Choose the negative with have got.
We haven’t got any tickets.: Put not after have and before got.
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“Has he got a phone?” Choose a short answer.
Yes, he has.: Repeat has, the auxiliary in the question.
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What does the speaker have?
A small bag: The speaker contrasts a small bag with a suitcase she does not have.
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Choose the correct pair.
Does she have…? / She has…: Does takes the base form; the affirmative uses has.
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What should you avoid?
Mixing do with have got: Both possession patterns work, but their question forms must stay consistent.
Take it with you
I can describe possessions using have or have got without mixing their question patterns.