A charger in your bag and the rooms in a flat are things someone has now. Have got expresses possession or characteristics, especially in conversation.

The idea

Use have got with I/you/we/they and has got with he/she/it. Short forms are 've got and 's got. Put not after have/has for negatives. In questions, put have/has before the subject; short answers keep have/has but drop got.

Examples

  • I've got a spare charger in my bag.
  • Lena's got curly hair.
  • We haven't got a balcony.
  • Has your flat got two bedrooms?
  • Have you got a pen? Yes, I have.
  • My brother hasn't got a driving licence.

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Watch out

Choose Have you got...? or Do you have...?, not Do you have got...?. Here 's means has, not is. For ordinary past possession, use had: We had a balcony. Have got is not a substitute for every use of have, such as eating breakfast.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. ___ your flat got two bedrooms? (Has / Does)

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    Has

    Has goes before the singular subject your flat. The question keeps got after the subject.

  2. Choose the correct option. We ___ got a balcony. (haven't / don't)

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    haven't

    The negative of have got is haven't got. Do not insert don't into this pattern.

  3. Choose the correct option. Have you got a pen? Yes, I ___. (have / got)

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    have

    The short answer repeats have without got: Yes, I have. Do not use got alone.

Use it today

Describe two things in your bag and one feature of your home. Ask a partner what they have, give a short answer, then say one thing you do not have.