English grammar – Have & have got
A- Have (got) is used to talk about:
1- Possession.
I’ve got a new house / I have a new house. Have you got/ do you have/ have you a new house?
Has she got a car? / Does she have a car?
2- Relationships.
Have you got a sister? / Do you have a sister?
He’s got three brothers / He has a baby.
3- Illnesses.
I’ve got a bad cold / I have a bad cold.
I’ve got a headache / I have a headache.
4- Characteristics and descriptions.
Her office has got a nice view / Her office has a nice view.
Why has he got a tattoo? / Why does he have a tattoo?
She has got brown hair / She has brown hair.
▲ For the past, use had. * For past questions and negation use did, didn’t
Lisa had long hair when she was a child. She didn’t have blonde hair.
Additional points
▲ Have got and have cannot be used in the progressive form to express the meanings above.
I 've got / have a headache – correct
I’m having a headache – Incorrect
▲ have got is not used when talking in the past, instead, use had; don’t say “* had got”
You can say- I wish I had got more time which is a past perfect (had+ pp. of get).
▲ For past questions say: Did you have? Don’t say: *had you?
Sometimes, we can hear native speakers say, "O God! I’m having a heart attack."
Or "Should I sleep when I'm having a headache?"Compare
She has gotten a car = She obtained…. VS She has got a car= She has a car.
What has gotten into you? = What happened to you? Gotten is North American or archaic.
B: Have could have other meanings such as A: eat, experience, take, spend, undergo, give birth
to… e.g. have dinner, a shower, a look, a chat, a baby….
▲ Here, have got is not possible. Compare:
I usually have (= eat) two sandwiches for dinner VS I have got two sandwiches, would you like one?
▲ In meanings B, the progressive form is possible. She is in the hospital. She is having a baby.
▲You can't say: *Have you lunch? Or * I haven’t lunch.
Good Luck Raed Albanon
