Meaning & use
verb have
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To own, hold, or possess something.
Grammar: Takes a direct object. In British English, questions and negatives can be formed without do: Have you a car? In American English, use do: Do you have a car?
Patterns
- have something
- have got something
She has a new bike.
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
I had a terrible headache yesterday.
verbtransitive
To experience, undergo, or take part in something.
Grammar: Takes an object. Often used with events or activities: have a party, have a look, have a shower.
Patterns
- have an experience
- have a meal
- have a party
We had a great time at the beach.
He has a shower every morning before work.
They had a long conversation about the future.
verbtransitive
To eat or drink something.
Grammar: Takes an object, usually food or drink. Common in British English: have breakfast, have tea.
Patterns
- have breakfast/lunch/dinner
- have a drink
- have some coffee
I usually have toast for breakfast.
Would you like to have some tea?
We had dinner at a new restaurant last night.
verbtransitive
To cause something to be done by someone else.
Grammar: Takes an object + past participle: have something done. The subject arranges for someone else to do the action.
Patterns
- have something done
- have your hair cut
- have the house painted
She had her car repaired last week.
I need to have my eyes tested.
They had their kitchen remodeled.
verbtransitive
To be forced to do something because of a rule or situation.
Grammar: Takes an object + infinitive without to: have to do something. Often used in the past: had to leave.
Patterns
- have to do something
- had to go
I have to finish my homework before dinner.
She had to work late yesterday.
Do you have to wear a uniform at school?
verbtransitive
Used as an auxiliary verb to form perfect tenses.
Grammar: Followed by a past participle: have done, has gone, had seen. It does not take do in questions: Have you finished?
Patterns
- have done something
- has been
- had seen
I have finished my essay.
She has never been to Japan.
They had already left when we arrived.
Word forms
| third person singular | has |
|---|---|
| past tense | had |
| past participle | had |
| -ing form | having |
Common combinations
- have a good time
- We had a good time at the party.
- have breakfast
- I have breakfast at seven every morning.
- have a look
- Can I have a look at your notes?
- have to
- You have to be quiet in the library.
- have something done
- He had his hair cut yesterday.
Synonyms and how they differ
- own
- More formal and specific to possession, especially legal ownership; 'have' is more general and common in everyday speech.
- possess
- Very formal; often used for qualities or abstract things (possess courage), while 'have' is neutral.
- hold
- Suggests physically holding something in your hands or having control; 'have' is broader.
Opposites
Word family
- having noun
- The act of possessing something; rare outside phrases like 'the having of wealth'.
- havenot noun
- A person with very little money or possessions; usually plural 'have-nots'.
Commonly confused: verb have or has? verb have or had?
verb have vs has
Third person singular form of 'have'; use 'has' with he, she, it, and singular nouns.
verb have vs had
Past tense and past participle of 'have'; do not use 'have' for past events.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
With the third person singular subject 'she', the correct present tense form is 'has'. 'Have' is used with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. 'Having' needs an auxiliary verb, and 'had have' is not a standard form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “verb have”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.