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
Transcript
Discussion
Have you got any good ideas about how to improve your English grammar? Share your ideas here.
Comments
In my opinion, we can improve our English Grammar by watching English movies, studying, chatting with friends in English and using this website.
Thanks
I didn’t understand this rule:(In British English we use have got more in speaking and have more in writing – it's a little more formal.)...
Hi Sherry4869,
We use 'have got' when we speak - 'I've got a new computer' but if I was to write the same sentence in an email I would write - I have a new computer.
Best wishes,
Tina (LearnEnglish Teens team)
Thanks for your answer, Tina (LearnEnglish Teens team).
yes, I have got many ideas, i think watching movies whith subtitles and reading books may help me to improve my English grammar.
Yes, I think it would be good for me talk a lot with people who speak fluent English, to read books written in English and one thing I already do is try to translate the songs into italian only by listening to them.
Yes, I have.
Speak a lot with stranger people who study english too (but not English people). You shuoldn’t be scary because anybody can judge you and you speak applying the grammar rules about verbs and other elements.
Yes, I have. Some ideas to improve my grammar English are : listening English songs, watching films in English, speaking for 10 minutes in English every day and when we are in holiday (ex. London, Madrid etc.) trying to speak in English.
Surely English grammar is improved by studying and learning more and more things, including training in speaking
I have got some idea that they can improve my english grammar. Maybe I have to do more exercise on my book and I can listen english music.
To improve my grammar, in my opinion it would be very useful to read books in English or to see films or a TV series in the original language with English subtitles
I so sorry, but i haven't no idea for improve english gramar. Maybe when i know the english every we'll i will have ideas
Yes, i have some ideas to improve my English. One of this is watching series tv in English, or reading books in English
Yes. I have. Before, I can take an English book and study grammar rules. Then, I can watch movies or TV series with subtitles. I can also listen to English music and search the texts of the songs. I can read the books in English and watch video in English on Youtube.
To improve my English grammar I have to read more books in English and maybe even watch movies so that I can think of it.
no I haven't got ideas to improve my English, but I think reading books, listening to songs and watching films in the original language can help me
Yes, for better my english grammar I should read and watch many books and films in english or speak a lot in english so I can improve my pronunciation. But in my opinion the best method is to go to England in order to really speak English with people who are native speakers.
Yes, I have some ideas how to improve my English; for example listening and repeating a lot and doing some comprehension of the texts
for improve my english grammar i read a lot of book in english
No I haven't got ideas for improve English grammar. Maybe when I know English well I will have ideas.
I have no ideas on how to improve grammar, but to improve vocabulary or conversations I think the only way is to travel.
I think that study is the best tinghs to do to improve english grammar.
yes i have got an idea to improve my English grammar,read all the topic and do all the exercises provided by British council.com and practice it.
Have you got any good ideas about how to improve your English grammar? Watching movies in English , doing grammar exercises and using this website of course .
Please help me.
Rewrite using conditional sentence type 3.
Nick can't find the way because he hasn't got a map.
1. If Nick had got a map, he could find the way.
2. If Nick had a map, he could find the way.
I am so confused. Which one is correct? And "have got" (he hasn't got a map) is present perfect, isn't it?
I'm looking forward to your answers. Thank you.
Hi thyngoc1985,
You're right that have got looks like the present perfect. But in this context (possession of something), it's present tense, and means the same as have - you can say Nick hasn't got a map or Nick doesn't have a map and they both mean the same thing.
But have got can't be used like this in the past - have a look at the page above. That's why for your example, option 2 is the best way of rewriting it as a conditional sentence.
Hope that helps!
Rachael
LearnEnglish Teens team
Hi, is HAVE GOT (I’ve got a pen) used for possetion a form of present perfect even if it is used to express present tense? Or is it seen as a totally separate grammartical aspect?
Hi Alux,
Thanks for your post, that's a good question. 'Have got' isn't the present perfect form of 'get'.
We can only use it in the present tense. 'Have got' is mainly used to talk about possessions and characteristics. For example 'I've got long hair'.
If you want to use it in the present perfect tense, you take away 'got'. For example:
'I've never had long hair.'
I hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Jo (LearnEnglish Teens team)
I haven't got any idea to improve English skill.I just continue reading article or conversation with English learner.Speaking English and writing English are most essential skill . Every English learner say you should to continue speaking English.My mother language is Japanese.It differ to English . I study grammar 3 time of a week,but still not good . My goal is to become a fluent speaker and join in american college to learn computer science.
I've got all the content! Thx learningenglish team.
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