Have and have got

 

Have / has / had = possess, but we also use have for other things (for example, family relationships).

• We have a new car
• I have a brother and two sisters.
• Tom has a headache / a clod / the flu / etc.
• When she was a child, she had long blonde hair.

In questions use do / does / did.

• How many brothers and sisters do you have?
• Does Ann have a car?
• Did you have a car when you lived in California? (not had you a car)

In negatives sentences use don't / doesn't / didn't.

• I don't have any money.
• Ann doesn't have any brothers or sisters.
• I wanted to call you, but I didn't have your number. (not I hadn't your number)
• He didn't have a watch, so he didn't know what time it was.

Have got / has got

You can use have got / has got rather than have / has alone.

• We've got a new car. (= We have a new car.)
• Tom has got a headache. (= Tom has a headache.)

The questions and negative forms are.

• Have you got a headache? (= do you have)
• Has she got any brothers or sisters? (= does she have)
• I haven't got any money. (= I don't have)
• Ann hasn't got a car. (= Ann doesn't have)

But don't use got for the past.

• When she was a child, she had long blonde hair. (not she had got)

Have for actions

We also use have for a number of actions (especially eating and drinking).

 

have breakfast / lunch / dinner / a meal / a cup of coffee / a cigarette / etc.

have a good time / a nice day / etc.    have a party (= give a party)

have a look (at something)                have a baby (= give birth to a baby)

 

(You cannot use have got in these expressions.)

• I always have a big breakfast in the morning. (not have got)
• Did you have a good time last night?
• We're having a party on Saturday. Would you like to come?
• What time does Ann usually have lunch?