Have got / Has got

Exercises

When to Use Have Got

Possession

• He has got a car.

• They have got two dogs.

Appearance & Characteristics

• She has got blue eyes.

• He has got a loud voice.

Relationships

• I have got two brothers.

• Emma has got many friends at school.

Illnesses / Conditions

• I have got a headache.

• He has got a cold.

You can also use have got to to talk about obligations:

• I’ve got to finish my homework. (= I must finish it)

• We’ve got to leave early tomorrow.

Difference Between Have and Have Got

Even though they mean the same, there are some rules:

Have got is only used in the present tense.

• He has got a bike. CORRECT

• He had got a bike. WRONG in this meaning

Have can be used in all tenses.

• I had a dog when I was young.

• I will have more free time next summer.

Have is used in certain expressions (never with got):

• have a shower

• have lunch

• have a good time

• have a fight

Sentence Forms with Have Got

Affirmative

• I/You/We/They have got …

• He/She/It has got …

Example: She has got a laptop.

Negative

• I/You/We/They haven’t got …

• He/She/It hasn’t got …

Example: He hasn’t got any money.

Questions

• Have I/you/we/they got …?

• Has he/she/it got …?

Example: Have you got a pen?

Note: Unlike have, have got does not need the helper verb do/does.

• Does she have a car? 

• Has she got a car? 

Common Short Forms

In conversation, people often shorten have got to just got:

• Got a minute? (= Have you got a minute?)

• Got any ideas? (= Have you got any ideas?)

Useful Idioms with Have Got

1. I’ve got it! - I understand!

2. She’s got it made. - Her life is perfect!

3. He’s got it bad. - He’s very much in love.

4. You’ve got only yourself to blame. - It’s your own fault.

5. They’ve got a hand in it. - They took part in something.

Quick Tip: Use have got for everyday conversation in the present tense. Use have in writing, in formal English, and for all tenses.