(to have) in the present tense. The rule for their use is simple, however, beginners often have difficulties with these words.

Has or Have – a rule of three simple points

Rule of use has/have following:

• Has used with third person singular pronouns he, she, it, For example:

He has a bike. - He has a bike.

She has a sister. - She has a sister.

This is a tree. It has many branches. - This is a tree. It has many branches.

• Has also used with any, which can be replaced by the noun he, she, it. This can be almost any part of speech, but most often:

John has a kangaroo. – John has a kangaroo.

Swimming has become a popular sport. – Swimming has become a popular sport.

The noun “John” can be replaced with he, “swimming” with it.

• Have used with all other pronouns in singular and plural: I, you, we, they.

I have a strange feeling. – I have a strange feeling.

You have no choice. – You have no choice.

We have two dollars. - We have two dollars.

They have reliable friends. – They have reliable friends

In other words, we see “He, She, It”, or a word that can be replaced with them, we put has, with other words – have.

Common mistakes in using Has and Have

1. Has in the past tense

Has and have These are forms of the verb in the present tense. In the past tense, the verb to have has only one form - had. In the past tense has is not used under any circumstances:

Right:

We had a lot of work. Helen had no work at all. – We had a lot of work. Helen had no work at all.

Wrong:

We had a lot of work. Helen has no work at all.

In the second, incorrect, option due to has the meaning changes: “Helen has no job at all (now).”

2. Has in the future tense

The same goes for the future tense: in the future tense, the verb to have has the form will have . In the future tense, has is not needed under any circumstances.

• Right:

He will have enough time for rest. - He will have enough time to rest.

• Wrong:

He will have will have enough time for rest.

3. Has and Have after names of people, names of cities, places

Beginners often get confused when these verb forms are used with proper nouns. The fact is that textbooks often give examples with people’s names, for example:

Maria has two sons. – Maria has two sons.

There may be a habit that after any proper name you need the verb has, but this, of course, is not the case. If the subject can be replaced with he, she, it, then we put has, in other cases (that is, if this word is plural) – have.

The Bahamas have changed a lot. – The Bahamas has changed a lot.

The Johnsons have two sons. – The Johnsons (the Johnson couple) have two sons.

Maria and John have two sons. – Mary and John have two sons

In the last example, the subject is expressed by the words “Maria and John”, that is, we are talking about the plural (two people).

4. Has after nouns like “people”: People have or People has?

Some nouns may look like a singular noun but have the meaning . In this case, when choosing between has / have, you need to be guided by the meaning of the word, not the form.

Let's compare two examples:

Some people have thirty three teeth – Some people have thirty-three teeth.

My people has more honor than yours. “My people have more honor than yours.”

In the first case, “people” means “people” and has the meaning plural, therefore “people have”. In the second case, “people” means “people”, it has the meaning singular, therefore “has”.

5. Have and Has in negations: He doesn’t has or He doesn’t have?

A common mistake is using has in a negative sentence with the auxiliary verb to do, that is, in negatives where there is “do not / don’t”, “does not / doesn’t”.

The rule is simple: after the negation don’t or doesn’t we always use the form have, even if the subject is he, she or it. “Doesn’t has” is basically an impossible combination.

I don't have any small change. – I don’t have any change.

He doesn't have any place to live. - He has nowhere to live.

The fact is that in such negative sentences, in the presence of a subject expressed by the pronouns he, she, it or other words in the third person singular, the verb to do takes the corresponding form- it turns into does, so turning have into has is kind of redundant.

6. Have and Has in the questions: Does he has or Does he have?

The same rule applies to interrogative sentences constructed using to do, that is, questions like “Do you have?”, “Does he have?”

These questions use does if the subject is expressed by the pronouns he, she, it, or any other word that can be replaced by one of these pronouns. Moreover, if the verb to have is present in the question, it is used only in the form have.

Rule: in questions with “do” or “does” we always use the have form, even if the subject is he, she or it. “Does he has” is a basically impossible combination.

Do you have a minute? - Do you have a minute?

Does he have a minute? – Does he have a minute?

One of the basic verbs in English language is a verb to have.

To have is an amazing verb: it can be semantic, auxiliary and modal. There are many set expressions and idioms with the verb to have.

In general, you can't go wrong if you start learning English with the verb to have.

Let's try to study all the uses of the verb to have:

I. To have as a semantic verb

VI. To have got

VII. Phrasal verbs

I. To have as a semantic verb

Translated as:

* have, possess

I have a big house in Moscow.

* include, include, contain

December has 31 days (has – because 3rd person).

* have the ability to do smth. (often translated into Russian in this case, who knows, understands)

You have only a little English.

In this case, to have is stative, i.e. cannot be in continuous form(ending -ing). To form the interrogative and negative form, the auxiliary verbs do (not) and does (not) are used.

I don’t have a big house in Moscow.

Do you have a big house in Moscow.

In the third person the verb to have has the form - has.

She/he has a big house in Moscow.

II. To have as a semantic verb in fixed expressions (“compound” verb)

To have breakfast/dinner - have breakfast, lunch

To have a good time/holiday etc. - have a good time, relax, etc.

To have a quarrel- quarrel

To have a rest/a sleep/a dream etc. - relax, sleep, dream

To have a shave/a wash- shave, wash

To have a smoke- smoke

To have a talk- talk

To have a try- to attempt

To have a walk- take a walk

To have bath/a shower– take a bath, shower

To have coffee/tea etc. – drink coffee, tea, etc.

To have pity- regret

In this case, the verb to have is semantic and can have a continuous form.

Call later please. I'm having a bath.

What time are we having dinner tonight?

III. To have as an auxiliary verb

For the formation of all perfect forms: simple, past, future, continuous

They have been married for 15 years.

How long has Anna been going out with James?

Have they been married for 15 years?

They have not been married for 15 years.

IV. To have as a modal verb

Has the shape of have to

The modal verb have to is used to express an obligation, especially when we're talking about about rules, laws, etc.

The staff have to dress formally in this company.

I didn’t have to wear a uniform when I went to school.

Do we really have to spend Christmas with your parents again?

V. Turnover to have + object + Past Participle (V3/Ved)

This turnover is used when the action is performed not by the person designated by the subject, but by someone else for him, for him (it will not necessarily be indicated by whom exactly).

I have my hair cut at this hairdresser’s. I get my hair cut (not myself, but they cut my hair) at this hairdresser.

I shall have the letters posted immediately. I will send (order to send, order to be sent) the letters immediately.

We're going to have the kitchen repainted next week.

I had my watch repaired yesterday.

I had my eyes tested when I got my new glasses.

The interrogative and negative forms are formed using the auxiliary verbs do (not) and does (not).

Where do you have your hair cut?

Did you have the letters posted yesterday?

I didn’t have the letters posted yesterday.

VI. To have got

To have got is used colloquially to express possession. It is an auxiliary verb in the have/has got construction.

The interrogative form is formed by placing have/has at the beginning of the sentence, and the negative form is formed by adding the particle not to the auxiliary verbs have/has.

How many children have you got?

Have/has got refers to some specific, temporary phenomenon.

Compare:

I have a cup of tea for breakfast in the morning (usually).

I haven’t got tea for breakfast in the morning. I have got coffee for breakfast in the morning.

Have/has got does not have a past tense form, i.e. had got.

In colloquial speech, have got to can also be used as a modal verb. Also has shade of temporaryness.

Compare:

I have to wear a suit to work (general).

I’ve got to make a quick phone call (specific).

I’ve got to go now – I’m meeting my girlfriend for lunch.

VII. Phrasal verbs

have back- invite in turn, in response

have down- receive as a guest

have in- have it in the house, call a specialist to your home

have off- learn by heart, have a day off, vacation

have on- to be dressed, to have smth. in the plans

have out- invite (to dinner, etc.), find out, let finish; remove (teeth, tonsils)

have over– invite, come to an end (of something unpleasant)

have up– invite, summon to court, bring to court, etc.

If you immediately understand the forms of this verb, then use of have has in English will seem very simple. Just remember the verb to be– he has three forms in the present tense. And to have- only two. This is already pleasing, isn’t it? And if you also correlate the rules of the simple present tense and the form of the verb “to have,” then everything generally falls into place!

Using have has in English

So what's special about use of have has in English? First, it is important to pay attention to which subject is in your sentence. It is from this moment that it depends which form of the verb needs to be used. According to grammatical rules, has only friends with he, she, it; A have- with all other persons and numbers.

Secondly, do not forget that in addition to statements, there are also questions with denials. Today it is acceptable to simply add in negation not to the corresponding verb form to have, and for a question, put the same form in front of the subject who has something in your sentence. You can also ask for help from do And does. For negatives with he, she, it will do doesn't, and for everyone else - don't. In the question, take out do or does(For he, she, it) in front of the subject.

In other words, using have has in English it is practically no different from other verbs in the present tense. It is only important to remember that there is a form has.

Using have in English with examples

Like all other rules, use of have in English It's better to remember with examples. This is what we will do right now!

Today we will talk about different forms and functions of one strong English verb have (having). The rule for the formation and use of this verb is quite extensive, but at the same time simple. Once you carefully study the information, you will no longer have problems using it. The whole essence of the verb lies in its versatility. We will try to review each of the functions as easily as possible.

general characteristics

A semantic verb, which in translation means “to have”. He has a big house. He has big house. It should be added that the translation into Russian may differ, since the option sounds more literary: He has a big house. An auxiliary verb that serves to form different tense forms. In this case it is not translated. She has done it already. She's already done it. They are having dinner now. We are having lunch now. A modal verb expressing obligation. He has to visit a doctor. He is forced to go to the doctor.

British and American versions

In British English it is used simple form“have” to express possession of some object one time. He has a nice toy. He has a beautiful toy. Here we mean that he now has a toy in his hands. When expressing possession of something on an ongoing basis, the form with got will be used in the sentence. He has got a nice toy. In this case, the translation will sound unchanged: “He has a beautiful toy,” but it is implied that this thing belongs to him permanently.

In the British version, this verb is perceived as strong, so it does not need any help when asking a question. Has he (got) a dog? Does he have a dog? In the American version, the verb is used in pairs with the auxiliary verbs do/does. Do you have a dog? You have a dog?

Features of forms in the present tense

He has not (hasn’t) any enemies.He does not (doesn’t) have any enemies.

Past tense

British version: Had he a big pie? Did he have a big pie?American version: Did he have a big pie? Did he have a big pie?

Have/having: rule of education

Has he left the city?They hadn’t done it yet.Have you been reading?

Will you have finished the work by the end of the week?We will not have been sitting.

Modal verb have to

He has to do it at once. He is forced to do it right away.

She has to leave now. She must leave now.

Do they have to buy it? Should they buy it?You don’t have to read this book. You don't have to read this book.

Phraseologisms

She has lunch at 1. She has lunch at 1.We had a talk after dinner. After dinner we talked.Did you have a bath? Have you already bought? I didn’t have a smoke yet. I haven't smoked yet.

To have is one of the most commonly used verbs in the English language, and, unfortunately, is used incorrectly in many cases.

This verb appears at all levels, but in textbooks the information is given scatteredly, and the features of the verb to have are almost never discussed in detail and systematized.
Therefore, ideas about the verb to have ambiguous: many believe that this is a very unusual verb, it has some special forms, questions and negations, whether it is semantic or auxiliary, has different meanings, then it is translated, then it is not...

Indeed, the verb to have has a lot of meanings (which we will look at shortly in this article), so it can be translated in different ways. It is true that it can be both semantic and auxiliary (more on this later).

But its forms are very simple: there are only three of them. In the present tense, have has two forms: have for (I, you, we, they) and has for (he, she, it).

I don't have a yacht. - I don't have a yacht.
He does not have a girlfriend. - He doesn't have a girlfriend.
You didn't have much money. - You didn't have a lot of money.

And now attention: typical mistake . In short answers to general issues We do not use have, but an auxiliary verb of the tense in which the question is asked:

Do you have a yacht? - Yes, I do./No, I don’t. (So ​​wrong: Yes, I have./No, I haven’t.)
Does he have a girlfriend? - Yes, he does./No, he doesn’t. (So ​​wrong: Yes, he has./No, I hasn’t.)
Did you have much money? - Yes, we did./No, we didn’t. (So ​​wrong: Yes, I had./No, I hadn’t.)

2. Relationship.

When we talk about people: about our family or loved ones, it’s more of an attitude than a possession, don’t you agree? Although the translation will be the same as in the first meaning: “someone (has) someone”:

I have two sisters. - I have two sisters.
We have a lot of friends. - We (have) many friends.
They have a big family. - They (have) a big family.

Again I emphasize that, speaking in the first two meanings, the verb have is State Verb. This means that he can not used in group tenses Continuous. We cannot observe action as such. It would be wrong to say: I am having a car or she is having a brother. Remember that in the meaning “I have” - only I have .

Second important point . The verb have in meanings own, possess, have in colloquial speech it is often replaced by the form have got. About the differences have And have got we will talk in a separate article, which will appear on the blog very soon due to numerous requests from our subscribers. I recommend checking it out, stay tuned for updates!

3. Actions.

Do you know why there are so many fixed expressions with the verb have?
The fact is that in addition to its basic meanings described above, it can also replace other verbs, and therefore “has taken root” in speech in these combinations. Let's look at examples of expressions in which have - does not mean “to have, own, possess,” but replaces another action:

Have in meaning eat (eat) :

Have breakfast/lunch/dinner - have breakfast, lunch, dinner
have a sandwich for breakfast - have a sandwich for breakfast
I will have a salad and some chicken, please. - I will (eat) salad and chicken, please.
What do you have for dinner? - What do you eat for dinner?
He is having his breakfast now. - He's having breakfast now.

Have in meaning drink (drink) :

Have some coffee/ some tea - drink coffee, tea
have a glass of wine - drink a glass of wine
I will have a cup of green tea. - I will (drink) a cup of green tea.
You should have some water if you are hot. - You should drink water if you feel hot.

Have in meaning suffer from(to suffer from) or experience(experience, experience):

Have a headache - suffer from a headache
have a cold - suffer from a cold
have a cough - suffer from a cough
I am having a terrible toothache! - I have a terrible toothache!
have an accident - survive an accident
have a difficulty - experience difficulties

Have in meaning give birth to(beget):

Have a baby - give birth to a child
She is going to have a baby. - She will have a child.
They want to have three children. - They want to have three children.
Our dog had four puppies. - Our dog gave birth to four puppies.

Have in meaning get(receive, buy):

Have news - get news
have information - get information
have a hometask - get homework
I must have those new shoes! - I have to buy those new shoes!

Have in combination with a noun conveys a single short-term action, the meaning of which depends on the noun. It's not difficult, look:

Have a walk - take a walk
have a look - look
have a bath/shower - take a swim
have a talk - talk
have a conversation - talk
have a drink - drink
have a swim - swim
have a ride - take a ride
have a nap - take a nap

In the above expressions we say have, we mean another verb, which is an action verb, so changing the meaning from state to action, the verb have can be used in Continuous tenses. Which, by the way, you might have noticed in some examples.

4. Have to is the equivalent of the modal verb must.

If after the verb have there is an infinitive with a particle to, then you have the equivalent of a modal verb must(must, obliged). The fact is that must does not have past or future forms.
But we need to talk about obligations not only in the present, but also in the past and future tense. And here have to comes to the rescue.

It is important to remember that despite the connection with modal verb And unusual shape, in this meaning the verb have continues to be semantic, therefore forms negatives and questions using the auxiliary verb of the tense you need:

I don't have to work tomorrow. - I don't have to work tomorrow.
We did not have to buy flowers. - We shouldn't have bought flowers.
He won't have to do much work. - He won't have to do much work.
Does she have to pay? - Does she have to pay?
Did you have to cook? - Were you supposed to cook?

You can find out more about this meaning of the verb have, its use and differences from must.

4. Auxiliary verb in Perfect tenses.

Have in combination with the third form of verbs forms perfect forms. Depending on the time, the form of the verb have changes, but the third form remains unchanged: in the present tense (have and has), in the past (had), and in - will have.
You can read in detail about each of these times in the articles dedicated to them, but now I would like to clarify the issue about. In the examples we discussed above, it was unacceptable to shorten the verb have (although sometimes you want to do so). In tenses of the Perfect group, since have acts as an auxiliary verb, it can be shortened:

I have - I’ve - /aɪv/
you have - you’ve - /juːv/
we have - we’ve - /wiːv/
they have - they’ve - /ðeɪv/

He has -he’s - /hiːz/
she has - she’s - /ʃiːz/

I had - I’d - /aɪd/ (with other pronouns - see above, pronounced by analogy, only the last sound /d/)

In the case of the future tense, have is not abbreviated; we will abbreviate will:
I will have - I’ll have - /aɪlhæv/ (with other pronouns - by analogy, only we change the pronoun)

And of course, since the verb is an auxiliary, have is obligatory for the formation of questions and negations in the tenses of the Prefect group, where it is not translated.
Read how to construct questions and negatives in thematic articles devoted to each tense.

5. Have something done (Causative).

This item is for more advanced readers, since this construction is usually studied at the Upper-Intermediate level. Here have is again in the role of an auxiliary verb and the whole construction means that something is done without the participation of the one who acts as the subject. In other words: someone has something done, something is done for someone.

Here, too, present and past and future forms of the verb have are used, it constructs negatives and questions and is present in short answers.

Read more about the design.

In conclusion, to summarize: the use of the verb have is determined by its meaning and role: whether it is semantic or auxiliary. All important conclusions are summarized in the table:

Now, when you encounter or use the verb to have, you will know why it is used this way and not otherwise: you will understand why you cannot shorten it or construct a negation with it.