Instructions
Have got (have/has + got) is used to talk mainly about possessions or personal attributes.
Give me some examples, please.
Certainly, here you are:
I've got a new computer.
They haven't got any red chilli peppers.
She's got long, brown hair.
He hasn't got many friends.
So the negative is have/has + not + got?
Yes, but don't forget the contraction.
Daisy hasn't got her books yet.
You haven't got 50 p, have you?
Is has got only used for things?
No, it's also used for timetabled events or illnesses.
I've got swimming practice at seven.
Fred's got a terrible cold.
You can use have got for abstract things too.
I've got an idea for the weekend.
I've got all the inspiration I need ... up here!
Can I use have got in the past? For example: I had got a racing bicycle when I was younger.
No, it's only used in the present tense. For the past you use had without got.
I had a racing bicycle.
What about the question form?
You use have/has + subject + got.
Have you got everything you need?
Have we got any red chilli peppers at home?
Have you got a minute?
Hang on a minute, I've heard Do you have … ? a lot too.
Yes, have got is more used in British English and have is more American. The question and negative form is different with have – you need to use the auxiliary do/does.
I have two sisters. (American English)
Do you have change for ten dollars? (American English)
He doesn't have a clue about soccer. (American English)
You will hear British people use have as well as have got.
Anything else I should know?
In British English we use have got more in speaking and have more in writing – it's a little more formal.
OK, I've got it now!
Very clever! Yes, you can also use have got to mean 'understand'.
Worksheets and downloads
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Discussion
Have you got any good ideas about how to improve your English grammar? Share your ideas here.
Comments
Some of my favorite pastimes for practicing have got to be watching English movies and Youtube channels, apart from this of course. Then I practice common words or phrases that are in them.
Hi learnenglish team,
Could you please explain the sentence "I've got it now". Is " I've got" correct to mean "understand" or " I've got it" ?
Excuse my English, I only started learning it at recently !
Thanks.
Hi Mirajp!
You are doing really well with your English! Well done ☺
'I've got it now, means 'I've understood it now'.
Best wishes, Tina (LearnEnglishTeens Team)
I've got a dog and a cat but I haven't got a bird. Has anyone have got a pet?
I've got a great idea! Get a tan!
Hi learn English team,
Have a good day.
Could you please clarify why I should say "I have a breakfast at 7.30 I/O I have got a breakfast at 7.30 ,however as per above we use "have got" for timetabled events.
Thank you in advance.
Kind regards.
Hi Mabdelaziz. It's because 'have' can mean 'consume', 'eat' or 'drink', as in these examples.
Unlike 'have', 'have got' cannot mean 'consume'.
As you say, 'have got' is used for timetabled events. So, if you say 'I have got breakfast at 7:30', it's correct but it sounds like it's part of a schedule: 'I've got breakfast at 7:30, then I have to meet my teacher at 8:30 and after that I've got class until midday ...'. So, 'have got breakfast' doesn't mean 'eat/consume breakfast'.
But, 'have got' has other meanings too, especially possession (e.g. I've got a new phone). And other words and phrases can be used for timetabled events too, not only 'have got' (e.g. 'I have class until midday').
Does that make sense? :)
Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
Dear Jonathan ,
Thank you so much for your amazing explanation.
Appreciate.
I'm sorry, but there is no way that 'Have got' is correct in English whatsoever. We use the term 'have' or 'got', not both. When I say 'I have something', I mean I have already received it, but when I say " I got something", then I mean I am only receiving it now. The grammar is off, so it's either the one or the other. Please explain (grammatically) why this is correct? You said that 'have got' is more British, and "have" is more American. How come 99 per cent of all people I know and see (even Americans) use 'Have got'?
Hi WhiteFringe, thanks for your question. You're right that 'I have something' or I've got something' are used when I have already have the thing.
I have a sister. = I've got a sister.
I have a cat. = I've got a cat.
I have a guitar. = I've got a guitar.
etc.
In British English we use 'have got' a lot with this meaning. We also use 'got' on its own, as you say. It means 'receive', 'obtain' or 'buy'.
I got a bike for my birthday.
I'm getting some milk from the shop now.
I'll go and get another chair.
Best wishes, Joanna (LearnEnglish teens team)
Yes, I am very much aware of the meaning as well as the use. My question is merely the Grammatical correctness of the use, as I think it's incorrect English to use 'have go', 'has got' or any other iteration. One does not use 'have' and 'got' in the same sentence unless 'got' is in the form 'gotten'.
e.g.
I have gotten thin.
Therefore, using 'have' and 'got' like:
I have got a bicycle
is wrong.
it's either: "I have a bicycle"
or
"I got a bicycle".
Please explain Grammatically why you say 'have got' is correct English?
Hi WhiteFringe,
In British English 'I've got a bicycle' is fine.
Best wishes, Tina (LearnEnglish Teen Team)
I've got an idea. I'm going to use British council every day!!!
Hi EriD. Great! We're looking forward to reading your comments. :)
Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
I've got next idea: i need listen more videos with captions
I've got some ideas. They're common things: more read, find unknown words, write them in sentences and watch more videos...
I've got an idea...when we want to learn new words in English, we can use those words in sentences...in this way we learn grammar and vocabulary...and I've got an else idea, we can write our sentences here and you correct us :-)
You can have a practice piece of text and have the students find errors in it and correct them!
Watching movies, reading and doing grammar exercises by using things like British Council: Learn English or grammar apps. :)
I've read a tip in a website, they said: Talk with out thinking to grammar! when you talk with your native language, you don't think about grammar, so just speak and stop thinking about grammar!
I have one more think to do...I read a text and then find its grammar and think about them.
But unfortunately I can't speak English fluency... :-((((
No, I haven't got any ideas. Maybe British Council ha got.
Yes, I have got some good ideas improve our English grammar. I find the British council very useful in this respect. Apart from this, grammar books should also be given attention. For getting fluency in spoken English, one should practice speaking English. If one doesn't find another person to speak to, then sitting in front of a mirror and speaking to one's own reflection is the best alternative.
By visiting the British Council Website in my free time. And practising writing because I like it!
I think that the best way to learn english is live in a country where people speak english. If you can't do that, whatching films or reading books, all in english, of course, is very helpful.
I think buying an English grammar book is very helpful.
I've found this British Council and it's great. Now I can study English myself at home. How cool is ut with British Council! Yay!!!
Hi prettygirl02,
Welcome to LearnEnglish Teens. We're happy that you have found our website. How did you find us?
Best wishes, Jo (LearnEnglish Teens Team)
i just did this exercise with my teacher and i got a 10/10 genius
You can improve your English grammar by learning the lessons on this page hardly and doing the exercises given.
No, i haven`t good ideas
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