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?

 

TRY THESE EXERCISES IN PDF HERE

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