subject + have/has + complementIn affirmative statements, use have with I/you/we/they and has with he/she/it.
Have as a Main Verb
A1Use have as a main verb for possession, relationships, routines, and experiences. Use has with he/she/it, and use do/does for negatives and questions.
What you'll learn
- Use have with I, you, we, they.
- Use has with he, she, it.
- Build negatives with don't have and doesn't have.
- Ask questions with Do/Does + subject + have.
- Recognize common phrases like have breakfast and have a problem.
Structure
subject + do/does + not + have + complementUse do not or does not for negatives. After the auxiliary, keep have in the base form.
Do/Does + subject + have + complement + ?Use Do or Does at the front. The main verb in the question is have, not has.
Build a sentence
Subject
Phrase
Shehasa car
She has a car.
Use has with he, she, it.
When to use
Possession
Talk about things people own or keep: Anna has a bike. We have a small apartment.
Relationships
Talk about family and people in someone’s life: Tom has two sisters. They have many friends.
Daily routines
Use have in everyday actions: Maria has breakfast at 7. I have a shower after work.
Experiences and states
Use have for situations and experiences: Lisa has a headache. We have a good time here.
Markers
breakfastlunchdinnera showera resta problemtimefun
In contrast
vs have-got
Have as a main verb uses do/does in negatives and questions: Do you have...? Have got uses have/has: Have you got...?
Common mistakes
Wrong
She have a new phone.
Correct
She has a new phone.
After he, she, it, change have to has in affirmative statements.
Wrong
He doesn't has much time.
Correct
He doesn't have much time.
After doesn't, the main verb stays in the base form: have.
Wrong
Does she has a car?
Correct
Does she have a car?
Does already carries the grammar for he/she/it, so the main verb is have.
Wrong
Maria has a car?
Correct
Does Maria have a car?
Yes/no questions with main-verb have need do or does at the front.
Common misconceptions
❝ If a sentence has have, I can make a question just by raising my voice. ❞
With main-verb have, standard yes/no questions use do or does: Do you have...? Does she have...?
❝ Because he takes has, I should keep has after doesn't and does. ❞
After do or does, use the base verb: have. The change to has disappears after the auxiliary.
Skills in this rule (7)
USE_HAVE_FOR_I_YOU_WE_THEYw5Use have with I, you, we, they
For possession, family, routines, and experiences, use have after I, you, we, and they. The verb stays have with these subjects.
USE_HAS_FOR_HE_SHE_ITw5Use has with he, she, it
After he, she, and it, change have to has. Use it in statements about possession, relationships, routines, and experiences.
NEGATIVE_WITH_DO_DOESw5Make negatives with do not or does not + have
Use do not with I, you, we, they and does not with he, she, it. After do or does, the main verb stays have, not has.
QUESTION_WITH_DO_DOESw5Ask questions with Do or Does + subject + have
Use Do with I, you, we, they and Does with he, she, it. In the question, the main verb is always have.
USE_FOR_POSSESSION_AND_RELATIONSHIPSw4Use have to talk about things people own and people in their lives
Use have or has for possessions, body parts, family, and close relationships. The meaning is what someone has, owns, or includes.
USE_FOR_ROUTINES_AND_EXPERIENCESw4Use have in common expressions for daily life and experience
Use have or has in fixed everyday phrases like have breakfast, have a shower, and have a good time. Also use it for experiences like have a problem or have an idea.
PICK_COMMON_HAVE_PHRASESw3Recognize common words and phrases that go with have
Words like breakfast, lunch, dinner, shower, rest, problem, and time often appear with have. These combinations signal the main-verb use of have.