UNIT 17. Have and have got

UNIT 17. Have and have got

A. Have and have got (= possess, own etc.)

We often use have got rather than have alone. So you can say:

* We've got a new car. or We have a new car.

* Ann has got two sisters. or Ann has two sisters.

We use have got or have for illnesses, pains etc.:

* I've got a headache. or I have a headache.

In questions and negative sentences there are three possible forms:

Have you got any money? I haven't got any money.

Do you have any money? I don't have any money.

Have you any money? (less usual) I haven't any money. (less usual)

Has she got a car? She hasn't got a car.

Does she have a car? She doesn't have a car.

Has she a car? (less usual) She hasn't a car. (less usual)

When have means 'possess' etc., you cannot use continuous forms (is having/are having etc.):

* I have/I've got a headache. (not 'I'm having')

For the past we use had (usually without 'got'):

* Ann had long fair hair when she was a child. (not 'Ann had got')

In past questions and negative sentences we normally use did/didn't:

* Did they have a car when they were living in London?

* I didn't have a watch, so I didn't know the time.

* Ann had long fair hair, didn't she?

B. Have breakfast/have a bath/have a good time etc.

Have (but not 'have got') is also used for many actions and experiences. For example:

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

have a bath/a shower/a swim/a rest/a party/a holiday/a nice time etc.

have an accident/an experience/a dream etc.

have a look (at something)/a chat (with somebody)

have a baby (= give birth to a baby)

have difficulty/trouble/fun

* Goodbye! I hope you have a nice time.

* Mary had a baby recently.

'Have got' is not possible in these expressions. Compare:

* I usually have a sandwich for my lunch. (have = 'eat' - not 'have got')

but * I've got some sandwiches. Would you like one?

In these expressions, have is like other verbs. You can use continuous forms (is having are having etc.)

where suitable:

* I had a postcard from Fred this morning. He's on holiday. He says he's having a

wonderful time. (not 'he has a wonderful time')

* The phone rang while we were having dinner. (not 'while we had')

In questions and negative sentences we normally use do/does/did:

* I don't usually have a big breakfast. (not 'I usually haven't')

* What time does Ann have lunch? (not 'has Ann lunch')

* Did you have any difficulty finding somewhere to live?

@p35

EXERCISES

17.1 Write negative sentences with have. Some are present (can't) and some are past (couldn't).

1. I can't make a phone call. (any change)

I haven't got any change.

2. I couldn't read the notice. (my glasses)

I didn't have my glasses.

3. I can't climb up onto the roof. (a ladder)

I ---

4. We couldn't visit the museum. (enough time)

We ---

5. He couldn't find his way to our house. (a map)

6. She can't pay her bills. (any money)

7. They can't get into the house. (a key)

8. I couldn't take any photographs. (a camera)

17.2 Complete these questions with have. Some are present and some are past.

1. Excuse me, have you got a pen I could borrow?

2. Why are you holding your face like that? --- a toothache?

3. --- a bicycle when you were a child?

4. '--- the time, please?' 'Yes, it's ten past seven.'

5. When you did the exam, --- time to answer all the questions?

6. I need a stamp for this letter. --- one?

7. 'It started to rain while I was walking home.' 'Did it? --- an umbrella?'

17.3 In this exercise you have to write sentences about yourself. Choose four of the following things (or

you can choose something else):

a car a bicycle a moped a guitar a computer a camera a driving licence a job a dog/a cat (or

another animal)

Have you got these things now? Did you have them ten years ago? Write two sentences each time using

I've got/I haven't got and I had/I didn't have.

now ten years ago (or five if you're too young)

1. I've got a car. I didn't have a car.

2. --- ---

3. --- ---

4. --- ---

17.4 Complete these sentences. Use an expression from the list and put the verb into the correct form

where necessary.

have lunch have a swim have a nice time have a chat have a cigarette have a rest have a good

flight have a baby have a shower have a party have a look

1. I don't eat much during the day. I never _have lunch._

2. David likes to keep fit, so he --- every day.

3. We --- last Saturday. It was great - we invited lots of people.

4. Excuse me, can I --- at your newspaper, please?

5. 'Where's Jim?' 'He --- in his room. He's very tired.'

6. I met Ann in the supermarket yesterday. We stopped and ---.

7. I haven't seen you since you came back from holiday ---?

8. Suzanne --- a few weeks ago. It's her second child.

9. I don't usually smoke but I was feeling very nervous, so I ---.

10. The phone rang but I couldn't answer it because I ---.

11. You meet Tom at the airport. He has just arrived. You say:

Hello, Tom. ---?