Basics. Have and Have Got for Possession: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓Two Ways to Say the Same Thing
When we talk about owning things, physical characteristics, relationships, or illnesses, English gives us two options: have and have got.
Both forms mean exactly the same thing. "I have a dog" and "I've got a dog" are identical in meaning. The main difference is regional and stylistic: "have got" is very common in informal British English, while "have" is standard everywhere, especially in American English and formal writing.
The grammar changes depending on which version you choose, especially when you need to say "no" or ask a question.
Making Negatives and Questions
The verb have acts like a normal present tense verb. To make it negative or turn it into a question, you must use the helping verbs do or does.
Have got works differently. Here, "have" is already acting as a helping verb, so you don't need do or does. You simply move "have/has" to the front for questions, or add "not" for negatives.
Questions: ✅ Do you have an aspirin? (Standard have) ✅ Have you got an aspirin? (Using have got) ❌ Do you have got an aspirin?
Negatives: ✅ She doesn't have a car. (Standard have) ✅ She hasn't got a car. (Using have got) ❌ She hasn't a car.
When You Cannot Use "Have Got"
While "have" and "have got" are interchangeable for possession, there are two major situations where you cannot use "have got":
1. The Past Tense "Have got" is strictly a present tense form. If you want to talk about possession in the past, you must use had. ✅ I had a bicycle when I was young. ❌ I had got a bicycle when I was young.
2. Actions and Experiences We often use "have" to describe actions, like have breakfast, have a shower, have fun, or have a baby. Because these are actions and not states of possession, you cannot use "got." ✅ I usually have a shower in the morning. ❌ I usually have got a shower in the morning.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most frequent mistake learners make is mixing the grammar of the two forms together. You must pick one lane: either use do/does with standard "have", or use have/has directly with "got". You cannot combine them.
✅ Does he have an umbrella? ❌ Does he got an umbrella?
✅ I haven't got any money. ❌ I don't got any money.
Finally, remember to change the verb for the third-person singular (he, she, it). You must use has or has got. ✅ The alien has got three eyes. ❌ The alien have got three eyes.
Correct answers
Question 1
Drag the correct words to complete the conversation at the hipster café.
Customer: Excuse me, do you have any almond milk?
Barista: No, but we 've got oat milk and cashew milk.
Customer: Great! I need to know, has it got added sugar?
Customer: Excuse me, do you have any almond milk?
To ask a question with "have", we use the helper verb "do" (Do you have...?).
Barista: No, but we 've got oat milk and cashew milk.
"We've got" is the contraction for "we have got", which means the exact same thing as "we have".
Customer: Great! I need to know, has it got added sugar?
To ask a question with "have got" for an "it" subject, we invert the subject and "has" to make "has it got".
Question 2
Complete the forgetful detective's confession to her partner by selecting the right words.
"I can't read this tiny clue, Watson. I ________ my magnifying glass today!"
The correct answer is haven't got.
To make "have got" negative for the pronoun "I", we use "haven't got" (I have not got). "Don't got" is grammatically incorrect, and "hasn't got" is only used for he, she, or it!
Question 3
"We 've got the sunscreen and the towels," said Maya, zipping up the beach bag. "But do we have the umbrella?"
Leo sighed. "No, we don't. And our neighbors haven't got one we can borrow, either. Looks like we are getting sunburned!"
've got is the correct contraction for "have got" when used with "we".
do we have is the standard question form for "have" with plural subjects.
haven't got is the correct negative form of "have got" for plural nouns like "neighbors". ("Hasn't got" is only for singular subjects).
Question 4
The correct answers are I have a tiny iguana in my backpack. and I've got a tiny iguana in my backpack.
"Have" and "have got" mean exactly the same thing when talking about possession (owning something).
"I'm having" is incorrect because we do not use the continuous form (-ing) for possession. "I has got" is incorrect because the pronoun I requires the verb have, not has.
Question 5
Help the overly prepared camper list his supplies by choosing the correct phrase.
"Don't worry about the rain! ________ an extra tent, three umbrellas, and a waterproof hat in my backpack."
The correct answer is I've got.
"I've got" is the short form of "I have got," which is a very common way to talk about possession or things we own. The other options use incorrect grammar or mix up the helping verbs!
Question 6
Drag the correct words to complete the student's frantic text message.
I have a huge problem. I 've got three tests tomorrow, and I don't have my textbook!
I have a huge problem.
With the pronoun "I", we use the base form "have". "Has" is only for he/she/it!
I 've got three tests tomorrow, and I don't have my textbook!
"I've got" is a very common and natural way to say "I have" in spoken English. To make the negative form of "have", we use "don't have" (or "haven't got").
Question 7
The correct answers are I don't have any money for the trip. and I haven't got any money for the trip.
To make negatives, "have" uses don't/doesn't (I don't have), while "have got" uses haven't/hasn't (I haven't got).
"I don't got" mixes the two forms and is grammatically incorrect. "I haven't got no money" is a double negative!
Question 8
"I have a huge problem," groaned Alex, digging through his backpack. "I haven't got my wallet anywhere in here! Do you have five dollars I can borrow for the bus?"
have is used with "I/you/we/they". We do not use the continuous form ("am having") for possession.
haven't got is the correct negative form of "have got". "Don't got" is grammatically incorrect in standard English.
Do you have is the correct question form for "have". (If using "have got", the question would be "Have you got?").
Question 9
The correct answers are Do you have an aspirin? and Have you got an aspirin?
When asking questions about possession, you can use "Do you have...?" or "Have you got...?". Both are perfectly correct and mean the same thing!
You cannot mix the two forms together ("Do you have got" or "Do you got"). Also, remember to match the verb to the subject: it is "Have you got", not "Has you got".
Question 10
Choose the grammatically correct phrase to complete the customer's unusual coffee order.
"Excuse me, ________ any oat milk? My pet parrot only drinks the finest dairy alternatives."
The correct answer is have you got.
To ask a question using "have got" with the pronoun "you", we put "have" before the subject: "Have you got...?" Be careful not to mix it with "do you have"—"do you got" is incorrect!
Question 11
"Has he got all his vaccinations?" asked the dad, looking at the tiny puppy.
"Yes, and he has a very friendly personality," replied the shelter worker. "He doesn't have any behavior issues at all, just a lot of energy!"
Has he got is the correct question form for "have got" with a third-person singular subject ("he"). "Does he got" mixes two different grammar rules!
has is the correct third-person singular affirmative form of "have".
doesn't have is the correct negative form of "have" for a third-person singular subject. (If using "have got", it would be "hasn't got").
Question 12
Drag the correct words to help the sci-fi writer describe their alien pet.
My new alien pet has three eyes and purple fur. It doesn't have a tail, but it has got wings!
My new alien pet has three eyes and purple fur.
"Alien pet" is a third-person singular subject (it), so we must use "has" instead of "have".
It doesn't have a tail, but it has got wings!
To make a negative sentence with "have" for an "it" subject, we use "doesn't have". For the affirmative, "has got" is a fun, slightly informal way to say "has"!