The Has Have difference: 7 Surprising Facts You Never Knew

Has Have Difference Explained

The has have difference depends on the subject of the sentence. Has and Have are two of the most popular words to explain possession. These words are used every day and have grammar rules to use them. They are used in different contexts. Has is used with pronouns he, she, and it whereas have is used with pronouns we, you, they, and I.

To Show Possession

Let us understand how to use have and has to show possession.

1. Ravi has got two brothers.
2. Sue has a stomach ache.
3. I have got a pet dog.
4. We have got a bicycle.
5. You have got a pencil.

Have means take, get, receive, and experience.

We have lunch at 2 pm.

I had an email from Marley last Monday. (receive)

Have also shows necessity or obligation. For example, ‘We have to go to the bank.’

Have is also used as a causative verb.

-I had my car repaired.

Note:- When have shows possession, it is treated as a non-conclusive verb and is not used in the continuous tense.

Correct: I have some soft toys at home.

Incorrect: I am having some soft toys at home.

To Show Necessity

Have and Has is used to indicate the necessity to do something.

1. I have to go to the doctor.
2. They have to pass the test.
3. Sita is studying history. She has to read a lot of books.
4. You don’t have money. You have to go to the bank.
5. Tom doesn’t understand English. You have to speak French.

To indicate a completed action

Has and have are used to indicate a completed action in the past with a result now. When we want to say that a task is complete in the present moment, we use has and have with the past participle form of the verb. This is called the present perfect tense.

1. They have lost their notebook.
2. He has bought a new house.
3. We have read the magazine.
4. You have had a bath.
5. I have cleaned my room.

 Has and have indicates singular and plural subjects. Has is used with singular subject while have is used with plural subject.

1. An insect has got six legs.
2. Most cars have got a music system.
3. John has got a lot of books.
4. It is a beautiful house. It has got a garden.
5. Our neighbours have got a cat.

Has and Have Questions

Let me walk you through some questions with has and have. These questions will you to understand has have differences in interrogative sentences.

1. Has Priya got a bicycle?
2. Have you got a pencil?
3. Have your friends got a guitar?
4. Has your friend got a passport?
5. Has your house got a balcony?

Has and Have Negative Sentences

Has not can be written as hasn’t and have not can be written as haven’t.

1. Charlie hasn’t got a camera.
2. You haven’t bought a doll.
3. We haven’t got a hen.
4. Tony hasn’t got brothers and sisters.
5. They haven’t got many friends.

Note: You cannot use have got and has got with some expressions.

For example:-

1. I have breakfast at 9.00 am.
2. We have a cup of tea in the morning.
3. Jim has a bath every day.
4. You have a motorbike.
5. George has a pizza for lunch.

So, has and have can be used in simple sentences to show possession, and necessity and to show a completed action. These words should be used to make sentences and ask questions. It is important to understand has have difference to write grammatically correct English.

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