Have Have got / CAE Advanced

Have - Have got

The verb HAVE / HAVE GOT is one of the most common verbs in English and can be used in so
many different ways that it can be confusing at times. Let us revise its grammar with example
sentences...
HAVE
Use have as a main verb for possession. Have with this meaning is a stative (non-action) verb and
is not used in continuous tenses. You can use auxiliaries do / did to make questions and negatives.
1. Mr Dessy has a luxurious country house in New York.
2. Does your sister have a baby girl?
Use have + object as a main verb for actions, e.g. have a bath, a drink, a chat, etc. Have with this
meaning is a dynamic (action) verb and can be used in continuous tenses.
3. He doesn't have dinner at home.
4. Are you having breakfast?
Use have as the auxiliary verb to form the present perfect simple and continuous. Make questions
by inverting have and the subject, and negatives with haven't / hasn't. We also use have for other
perfect forms, e.g. the future perfect, the perfect infinitive, etc.
5. They have been married for 15 years.
6. How long has Anna been going out with James?
Use have to when you want to express obligation, especially obligation imposed by others, and
rules and regulations. Have to is a main verb.
7. Do we have to spend Christmas with your parents again?
8. Does your wife have to work today?
CAUSATIVE HAVE.
Use have + object + past participle to say that you ask or pay another person to do something for
you. Have here is a main verb, not an auxiliary verb, e.g. Where do you have your hair cut?
9. We're going to have the kitchen repainted next week.
10. I had my eyes tested when I got my new glasses.

HAVE GOT
You can also use have got for possession. The meaning is exactly the same as have. And now pay
attention to this:
1

Have Have got / CAE Advanced

A. Have here is an auxiliary verb so make questions by inverting have and the subject and
negatives with haven't / hasn't.
B. Have got has a present meaning. We use had for the past, NOT had got .
C. Have got is very common in informal spoken and written English.
1. How many children have they got?
2. I've got three children, two boys and a girl.
Use have got to to express obligation, especially in informal spoken and written English. Have got
to is normally used for a specific obligation rather than a general or repeated obligation.
Compare:
I've got to make a phone call >> specific.
I have to wear a suit to work >> general.
3. I've got to go now - I'm meeting my girlfriend for lunch.
4. You have to keep on practicing listening.

Have Have got / CAE Advanced

PRACTICE
Have - Have got
ACTIVITY 1: Choose the correct words or phrases. In some sentences two answers are possible.
Then check the correct answers.
1.

Some friends of ours HAD/ HAVE GOT / HAVE HAD a nasty car accident last night.

2.

She can't call her husband because she DOESNT HAVE/ HASNT / HASNT GOT a mobile.

3.

DID YO HAVE / HAD YOU / HAVE YOU GOT a good time at your nephew's wedding?

4.

Are you coming out with us? HAVE YOU / DO YOU HAVE / HAVE YOU GOT to work late?

5.

We HAD / HAD GOT / HAVE GOT our TV repaired last week, but it still doesn't work.

6.

Our mortgage is very high because WERE HAVING / WE HAVE / WEVE GOT an enormous
house.

7.

I DIDNT HAVE TO / HADNT GOT TO/ HADNT TO wear a uniform when I went to school.

8.

The manager HADNT / WILL HAVE / WONT HAVE seen the news yet because the papers
haven't been delivered.

ACTIVITY 2: Complete the sentences with the correct form of HAVE or HAVE GOT. In some
sentences two answers are possible. Then check the correct answers.
1. They couldn't go to the concert because they . any way to
get there.
2. Jessica doesn't need a company car because she ..
travel in her job.
3. This is a great car. How long it?
4. Let's take a taxi. We ..time to walk.
5. I can't lend you my bike. I .. it repaired.
6. Ben doesn't know everyone yet. He . working in
our office for very long.
7. Welcome to Argentina. . a good flight?
8. I'll give you a lift. What time to be at the airport?