What is Have got / Has got for?
We use have got and has got to talk about things people possess. This means things they own or have.
- We also use it for relationships, like family members.
- It is very common in British English.
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How do we form questions with Have got?
To ask a question with have got, we put Have at the beginning of the sentence.
The structure is: Have + subject (I, you, we, they) + got + object?
- For example, Have you got a pet?
- Another example is Have they got new phones?
How do we form questions with Has got?
For subjects he, she, and it, we use Has at the beginning of the question.
The structure is: Has + subject (he, she, it) + got + object?
- For example, Has he got a sister?
- Another example is Has it got a long tail? (for an animal).
How do we give short answers?
When someone asks a have got or has got question, you can give a short answer. You do not need to repeat the whole question.
- For Have you got…?, the answers are: Yes, I have. or No, I haven’t.
- For Has she got…?, the answers are: Yes, she has. or No, she hasn’t.
- Remember, we do not use got in the short answer.
| Subject | Question Form | Positive Short Answer | Negative Short Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| I, you, we, they | Have + (subject) + got…? | Yes, (subject) have. | No, (subject) haven’t. |
| he, she, it | Has + (subject) + got…? | Yes, (subject) has. | No, (subject) hasn’t. |
Examples
- Have you got a big family?
- Have we got enough time?
- Has he got a red car?
- Has she got a new job?
- Have they got any children?
- Has your dog got blue eyes?
Practice
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Chat with an Advisor on WhatsAppCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers sometimes make mistakes when using have got questions.
- Using Do/Does: In Spanish, you might use a form of ‘tener’ directly for questions. In English, with have got, we do NOT use do or does.
- ❌ Do you have got a pet?
- ✅ Have you got a pet?
- Missing got: Remember that got is an important part of this structure.
- ❌ Have you a pet?
- ✅ Have you got a pet?
Frequently asked questions
Is have got used in American English?
Have got is much more common in British English. In American English, people usually say Do you have…? instead of Have you got…? for questions about possessions.
Can I use have got for actions?
No, we only use have got to talk about possessions, relationships, or characteristics. For actions, we use other verbs. For example, I have breakfast (action), but I have got a new car (possession).
Is have got formal or informal?
Have got is generally more informal than have (without got). It’s very common in everyday spoken English.
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