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Unit 17 · Present perfect and past

have and have got

Study

A

You can use have or have got. There is no difference in meaning. You can say:

›

They have a new car.

›

They've got a new car.

›

Lisa has two brothers.

›

Lisa has got two brothers.

›

I have a headache.

›

I've got a headache.

›

Our house has a small garden.

›

Our house has got a small garden.

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He has a few problems.

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He's got a few problems.

›

I have a driving lesson tomorrow.

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I've got a driving lesson tomorrow.

With these meanings (possession etc.), we do not use continuous forms (I'm having etc.):

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We're enjoying our holiday. We have a nice room in the hotel.

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We've got a nice room in the hotel.

(not We're having a nice room)

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

›

Lisa had long hair when she was a child. (not Lisa had got)

B

In questions and negative sentences there are three possible forms:

Do you have any questions? I don’t have any questions.
or Have you got any questions? or I haven’t got any questions.
or Have you any questions? (less usual) or I haven’t any questions. (less usual)
Does she have a car? She doesn’t have a car.
or Has she got a car? or She hasn’t got a car.
or Has she a car? (less usual) or She hasn’t a car. (less usual)

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

›

Did you have a car when you were living in Paris?

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I didn't have my phone, so I couldn't call you.

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Lisa had long hair, didn't she?

C

We also use have (but not have got) for things we do or experience. For example: have

breakfast / dinner / a cup of coffee / something to eat etc.
a bath / a shower / a swim / a break / a rest / a party / a holiday
an accident / an experience / a dream
a look (at something)
a chat / a discussion / a conversation (with somebody)
trouble / difficulty / fun / a good time etc.
a baby (= give birth to a baby)

Have got is not possible in these expressions. Compare:

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Sometimes I have (= eat) a sandwich for my lunch. (not I've got)

but

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I've got / I have some sandwiches. Would you like one?

You can use continuous forms (I'm having etc.) with these expressions:

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We're enjoying our holiday. We're having a great time.

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'Where's Mark?' 'He's having a shower.'

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

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

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Where does Chris usually have lunch?

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Did you have trouble finding somewhere to stay? (not Had you)

→ have (got) to … ➜ Unit 31 · American English ➜ Appendix 7

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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17.1

Which goes with which?

  1. 1I'm not free tomorrow morning.
  2. 2Rachel is an only child.
  3. 3We've got plenty of time.
  4. 4You've got a really good voice.
  5. 5I don't feel very well this morning.
  6. 6Laura studied at university.
  7. 7I've got a question.
  8. 8James has got a lot of experience.
  1. aShe's got a degree in physics.
  2. bI've got a sore throat.
  3. cThere's no need to hurry.
  4. dI've got a driving lesson.
  5. eMaybe you can answer it.
  6. fI think he should get the job.
  7. gI wish I could sing as well as you.
  8. hShe's got no brothers or sisters.
17.2

Complete the sentences using have.

  1. 1
    She couldn't get into the house. She a key.example
  2. 2
    Is there anything you'd like to ask? any questions?
  3. 3
    They can't pay their bills. They any money.
  4. 4
    We got wet in the rain yesterday. We an umbrella.
  5. 5
    Jack a car. He can't afford one and he can't drive anyway.
  6. 6
    'Excuse me, a pen I could borrow?' 'Yes, sure. Here you are.'
  7. 7
    I was very busy yesterday. I time to go shopping.
  8. 8
    'Tell me about Jack. a job?' 'Yes, he works at the hospital.'
  9. 9
    When you worked in your last job, your own office?
  10. 10
    'Where's the remote control?' 'I don't know. I it.'
  11. 11
    'Tom a motorbike, he?' 'Yes, that's right. A long time ago.'
17.3

Are the underlined words OK? Change them where necessary.

  1. 1
    I'm not free tomorrow morning. a driving lesson.example
  2. 2
    Lisa long hair when she was a child.
  3. 3
    I couldn't contact you because my phone.
  4. 4
    'Are you feeling OK?' 'No, a cold.'
  5. 5
    I'm not working right now. a break.
  6. 6
    I felt really tired. any energy.
  7. 7
    It's a small town. many shops.
  8. 8
    Was your trip OK? any problems?
  9. 9
    My friend called me when breakfast.
  10. 10
    The last time I saw Steve, a beard.
  11. 11
    We don't need to hurry. plenty of time.
  12. 12
    How often a shower?
17.4

Complete the sentences. Use an expression with have in the correct form. Choose from:

have a babyhave a breakhave a chathave troublehave a showerhave a lookhave lunchhave a partyhave a nice timehave a holiday
  1. 1
    I don't eat much during the day. I never .example
  2. 2
    David starts work at 8 o'clock and at 10.30.
  3. 3
    We last week. We invited lots of people.
  4. 4
    There's something wrong with my bike. Can you at it for me?
  5. 5
    Joe is away on holiday at the moment. I hope he .
  6. 6
    I met some friends in the supermarket yesterday. We stopped and .
  7. 7
    ' finding the book you wanted?' 'No, I found it OK.'
  8. 8
    Suzanne a few weeks ago. It's her second child.
  9. 9
    I when the light went out suddenly.
  10. 10
    I'd like to go away somewhere. I for a long time.