Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 17 · B1

have and have got

Use have or have got, with no difference in meaning, for possession, relationships, illnesses and appointments. Use have alone, never have got, for things you do or experience: have breakfast, have a shower, have a good time.

Start the lesson

16Steps · about 32 minutes

In this lesson

have and have got: possession, family, illness, appointmentsA2 screens of questions
Questions and negativesB3 screens of questions
have breakfast, have a shower, have a good timeC3 screens of questions
Put it together+3 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 3

have and have got: possession, family, illness, appointments

For possession, relationships, illnesses and appointments you can use have or have got. The meaning is identical; only the length differs.

have have got
We have a new boiler. We've got a new boiler.
Joel has three sisters. Joel has got three sisters.
I have earache. I've got earache.
The flat has a tiny balcony. The flat has got a tiny balcony.
She has a dentist's appointment at four. She's got a dentist's appointment at four.

With these meanings, do not use continuous forms (I'm having and so on).

For the past, use had, normally without got.

  • We're loving the cottage. We have a view of the whole bay. (not We're having a view)
  • We've got a view of the whole bay.
  • My grandad had a moustache when he was young. (not had got)

Point A · Exercise 17.1 · part 1 of 2

Which sentence on the right follows each sentence on the left? Match them.

Use these

  1. He's got years of experience.
  2. I've got a temperature.
  3. We've got loads of time.
  4. I've got a dentist's appointment.
  5. I've got a question about the rota.
  6. She's got a degree in accountancy.
  7. I've got a train to catch.
  8. It's got huge windows.

  1. Example

    I can't meet you on Thursday evening.

    d

    AnswerI can't meet you on Thursday evening. I've got a dentist's appointment.

  2. Sorry, I can't stop and talk.

  3. Ffion understands company accounts.

  4. There's no need to rush.

  5. Their new flat is lovely and bright.

Point A · Exercise 17.1 · part 2 of 2

Which sentence on the right follows each sentence on the left? Match them.

Use these

  1. He's got years of experience.
  2. I've got a temperature.
  3. We've got loads of time.
  4. I've got a dentist's appointment.
  5. I've got a question about the rota.
  6. She's got a degree in accountancy.
  7. I've got a train to catch.
  8. It's got huge windows.

  1. I'm staying off work today.

  2. Can I ask you something?

  3. Marek should be in charge of the project.

Point B of 3

Questions and negatives

In present questions and negatives there are three possible forms. The third is less usual and sounds rather old-fashioned.

Question Negative
Do you have a ticket? I don't have a ticket.
Have you got a ticket? I haven't got a ticket.
Have you a ticket? (less usual) I haven't a ticket. (less usual)
Does he have a bike? He doesn't have a bike.
Has he got a bike? He hasn't got a bike.
Has he a bike? (less usual) He hasn't a bike. (less usual)

In past questions and negatives, use did / didn't.

  • Did you have a dog when you lived on the farm?
  • I didn't have any cash, so I couldn't pay for the parking.
  • Your mum had a red Mini once, didn't she?

Point B · Exercise 17.2 · part 1 of 3

Complete the sentences using have, in the correct form.

  1. Example

    He couldn't start the car. He didn't have the keys.

    AnswerHe couldn't start the car. He didn't have the keys.

  2. Example

    Is there anything you're not sure about? Do you have any questions?

    AnswerIs there anything you're not sure about? Do you have any questions?

  3. They can't go on holiday this year. They any money.

  4. We got soaked walking home last night. We a coat.

  5. My brother a phone. He says he doesn't want one and wouldn't know how to use it.

  6. "Excuse me, a charger I could borrow?" "Yes, of course. Here you go."

Point B · Exercise 17.2 · part 2 of 3

Complete the sentences using have, in the correct form.

  1. Work was manic yesterday. I time to stop for lunch.

  2. "Tell me about your cousin. any children?" "Yes, two little girls."

  3. When you lived in London, a car?

  4. "Where's the tin opener?" "No idea. I it."

Point B · Exercise 17.2 · part 3 of 3

Complete the sentences using have, in the correct form.

  1. "Your dad a fish and chip shop, he?" "That's right. Years ago, in Scarborough."

Point C of 3

have breakfast, have a shower, have a good time

have (never have got) also describes things we do or experience:

Area Expressions
Food and drink have breakfast / lunch / tea / a cup of coffee / something to eat
Rest and leisure have a bath / a shower / a swim / a break / a rest / a party / a holiday
Events have an accident / an experience / a dream
Looking and talking have a look (at something) / a chat / a discussion / a conversation (with somebody)
How it goes have trouble / difficulty / fun / a good time
Birth have a baby (give birth)

In these expressions have got is impossible. Set I usually have a pie for lunch (eat) beside I've got some pies in the oven (possess).

Continuous forms work here (I'm having and so on), and questions and negatives take do / does / did.

  • We're having a brilliant time at the festival.
  • "Where's Grandma?" "She's having a lie-down."
  • I don't normally have lunch on a Saturday. (not I normally haven't)
  • What time do you usually have tea?
  • Did you have any trouble parking? (not Had you)

Point C · Exercise 17.4 · part 1 of 3

Complete the sentences. Use an expression with have, in the correct form, from the box.

Use these

have a babyhave a breakhave a chathave troublehave a showerhave a lookhave lunchhave a partyhave a nice timehave a holiday

  1. Example

    I'm never hungry in the middle of the day. I never have lunch.

    AnswerI'm never hungry in the middle of the day. I never have lunch.

  2. Shaun starts on the building site at seven and at ten.

  3. We for Mum's sixtieth on Saturday. Half the street came.

  4. My laptop keeps making a strange noise. Could you at it for me?

  5. Kirsty is in Crete at the moment. I hope she .

Point C · Exercise 17.4 · part 2 of 3

Complete the sentences. Use an expression with have, in the correct form, from the box.

Use these

have a babyhave a breakhave a chathave troublehave a showerhave a lookhave lunchhave a partyhave a nice timehave a holiday

  1. I bumped into an old friend at the market this morning, so we stopped and .

  2. " finding the car park?" "No, it was easy."

  3. Our neighbour last month. It's a little boy.

  4. I when the water suddenly went cold.

Point C · Exercise 17.4 · part 3 of 3

Complete the sentences. Use an expression with have, in the correct form, from the box.

Use these

have a babyhave a breakhave a chathave troublehave a showerhave a lookhave lunchhave a partyhave a nice timehave a holiday

  1. I need to get away somewhere. I for ages.

Put it together · Exercise 17.3 · part 1 of 3

Is the part in square brackets correct? Write OK if it is. If it is not, write the correct form.

  1. Example

    I can't come on Friday. [I've got a hospital appointment.]

    OK

    AnswerI can't come on Friday. I've got a hospital appointment.

  2. Example

    [Grandad had got a beard] when he was in the navy.

    Grandad had a beard

    AnswerGrandad had a beard when he was in the navy.

  3. I didn't text you because [I hadn't my phone].

  4. "You sound terrible." "I know. [I'm having a sore throat.]"

  5. Come and sit down. [I'm having a cup of tea.]

  6. I went to bed early. [I hadn't any energy.]

Put it together · Exercise 17.3 · part 2 of 3

Is the part in square brackets correct? Write OK if it is. If it is not, write the correct form.

  1. It's a tiny village. [It doesn't have a post office.]

  2. How was the drive? [Had you any problems?]

  3. The doorbell rang while [I was having a bath].

  4. When I first met Lucy, [she was having blue hair].

Put it together · Exercise 17.3 · part 3 of 3

Is the part in square brackets correct? Write OK if it is. If it is not, write the correct form.

  1. Don't panic. [We have plenty of petrol.]

  2. What time [have you breakfast] on a weekday?

Lesson 17 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: used to (do)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. have and have got: possession, family, illness, appointments–Not checkedB. Questions and negatives–Not checkedC. have breakfast, have a shower, have a good time–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked