Whats is the difference between have and have got?
One of the principal grammar doubts at A2 Level is the difference between have and have got. Both are simple forms that we use for possession, but what are the differences?
We use have and have got in the same way in the affirmative. I have a new car and I have got a new car are one and the same. But the differences occur in the negative and the interrogative. Study the examples
THEY ARE THE SAME IN THE AFFIRMATIVE:
When we use have or have got, there is very little difference in the affirmative. We usually use have got for the possession of an object, for instance, I have got a black bike. However, have and have got have the same meaning and structure.
| SUBJECT | VERB | EXAMPLES |
| I | HAVE | I HAVE (GOT) A BROTHER |
| YOU | HAVE | YOU HAVE (GOT) A DOG |
| HE/SHE/IT | HAS | HE HAS (GOT) A SISTER |
| THEY | HAVE | THEY HAVE (GOT) A JOB |
| WE | HAVE | WE HAVE (GOT) FRIENDS |
THE AUXILIARY CHANGES IN THE NEGATIVE
In the negative, you need to be careful because the auxiliary verb in the negative are different. Study the examples.
Have got
| SUBJECT | AUXILIARY VERB | EXAMPLES |
| I | HAVEN’T | I HAVEN’T GOT A CAT |
| YOU | HAVEN’T | YOU HAVEN’T GOT IT |
| HE/SHE/IT | HASN’T | HE HASN’T GOT A CAR |
| THEY | HAVEN´T | THEY HAVEN´T GOT A BIKE |
| WE | HAVEN´T | WE HAVEN´T GOT MONEY |
Have
| SUBJECT | AUXILIARY VERB | EXAMPLES |
| I | DON’T | I DON´T HAVE A CAT |
| YOU | DON’T | YOU DON’T HAVE IT |
| HE/SHE/IT | DOESN’T | HE DOESN’T HAVE A CAR |
| THEY | DON’T | THEY DON’T HAVE A BIKE |
| WE | DON’T | WE DON’T HAVE MONEY |
THE AUXILIARY ALSO CHANGES IN THE INTERROGATIVE:
Be aware of how the auxiliary changes when you want to form a question. We use do/ does with have or have/has with have got.
Have got
| AUXILIARY | SUBJECT | EXAMPLES |
| HAVE | I | HAVE I GOT A PRESENT? |
| HAVE | YOU | HAVE YOU GOT A PET? |
| HAS | HE/SHE/IT | HAS SHE GOT A PLAN? |
| HAVE | THEY | HAVE THEY GOT FRIENDS? |
| HAVE | WE | HAVE WE GOT A BREAK? |
Have
| AUXILIARY | SUBJECT | EXAMPLES |
| DO | I | DO I HAVE A PRESENT? |
| DO | YOU | DO YOU HAVE A PET? |
| DOES | HE/SHE/IT | DOES SHE HAVE A PLAN? |
| DO | THEY | DO THEY HAVE FRIENDS? |
| DO | WE | DO WE HAVE A BREAK? |
DOWNLOAD EXPLANATION IN PDF HERE
Both have and have got are used for possession, but have got is really the present perfect simple tense. The main differences occur when we want to conjugate have with any other verb such as I have, like: I have bought a car.
We cannot conjugate have got with will, would or should as the meaning changes and it becomes a modal perfect
STUDY THE EXAMPLE:
I will have fun at the party. I will have got fun at the party.
I would have a brother. I would have got a brother.
I should have a drink. I should have got a drink.
WITH CAN:
We also can’t use can + have got
Can I have a coffee? Can I have got a coffee?
