Learn English : Usage

Have or have got?

Have got means exactly the same as have in affirmative clauses. Got-forms of have are informal, and are most common in the present.

• She has got a new boyfriend. (= She has a new boyfriend.)
• My mother has got two sisters. (= My mother has two sisters.)
• They have got a car. (= They have a car.)

Differences

In questions and negatives, we do not normally use have without got.

• Has your sister got a car? (More natural than Has your sister a car.)
• I haven’t got your keys. (More natural than I haven’t your keys.)

Note that it is also possible to use do-forms of have instead of got-forms.

• Does your sister have a car? (= Has your sister got a car?)
• I don’t have your keys. (= I haven’t got your keys.)

Cases where have got is not used

Have got is not used in short answers or tags.

• Have you got a headache?’ ‘Yes, I have.’ (NOT Yes, I have got.)
• She has got a new car, hasn’t she? (NOT …hasn’t she got?)

Got-forms of have are less common in the past tense.

• I had flu last week. (NOT I had got flu last week.)

British-American differences

In British English, have without got is possible in short questions and negatives, though these are often formal.

Compare:

• Have you a car? (Formal GB only)
• Have you got a car? OR Do you have a car? (US/GB)
• It’s a nice flat, but it hasn’t a proper bathroom. (Formal GB only)
• It’s a nice flat, but it doesn’t have a proper bathroom. OR It’s a nice flat, but it hasn’t got a proper bathroom. (US/GB)

Subscribe and win an eBook

Subscribe to our feed by email and win a free grammar eBook titled '120 Grammar and Vocabulary Mistakes to Avoid'.

The download link will be sent by email. Please make sure that you have enabled links and images in your email.